Ryu features prominently in the anime special "Street Fighter II: Yomigaeru Fujiwara-kyō - Toki o Kaketa Fighter-tachi." The story begins when E. Honda summons Ryu, Ken Masters, and Chun-Li to Japan to demonstrate a new sumo technique. During this gathering, an unexpected space-time storm erupts, triggered by the artifact Kameishi, violently hurling all four warriors approximately 1,300 years into the past, into the heart of the ancient Fujiwara capital.

Following the chaotic temporal displacement, Ryu finds himself separated from Chun-Li and E. Honda. He journeys through the historical landscape alongside Ken Masters. As they traverse the ancient capital, Ken provides detailed explanations of its history and the mechanics of their time travel. Ryu remains largely silent, observing and absorbing the details of the rapidly changing environment firsthand, witnessing the capital's swift rise and fall as time accelerates around them.

Ryu's primary focus becomes locating their missing companions. He and Ken successfully find Chun-Li and later reunite with E. Honda. Once the group is complete, the space-time phenomenon returns them to present-day Japan. The special notably contains no combat sequences, instead emphasizing the characters' immersion in the historical setting and their interactions. Ken serves as the primary source of historical exposition, while Ryu maintains his observant and quiet demeanor throughout the adventure, culminating in their return to their original time.