Wait. If you’re looking through the episode list of One Piece on a streaming site like Crunchyroll and things suddenly feel "off" around the Punk Hazard arc, you've probably stumbled upon the anomaly that is One Piece Episode 590.
It’s weird.
Most people expect to see Law and Luffy dealing with Caesar Clown's gas experiments, but instead, they get a pink-haired guy eating a giant monster and a Saiyan flying on a cloud. This isn't a mistake in the numbering. It’s a relic of a very specific era in Fuji TV’s "Dream 9" programming block.
One Piece Episode 590, titled "History's Strongest Collaboration vs. Glutton of the Sea," is a massive three-way crossover between One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, and Toriko. It’s basically a fever dream of Shonen Jump's biggest titans. If you’re a purist following the manga, this episode doesn't exist. It’s non-canon. It’s essentially a 24-minute commercial for the Toriko anime, which Toei Animation was pushing hard at the time.
But even if it's "filler," it’s fascinating.
Why One Piece Episode 590 is Missing for Some Fans
Streaming rights are a nightmare. Honestly, that’s the simplest explanation for why you might see this episode listed in a wiki but missing from your favorite legal streaming platform. Because One Piece Episode 590 involves three different franchises with overlapping but distinct licensing agreements, it often gets pulled from digital bundles.
You’ve got Funimation, Toei, and various international distributors all trying to agree on who gets paid for a single episode that features Goku. Usually, Goku wins the contract fight.
The episode itself is actually the second half of a special. The first half aired as Toriko Episode 99. If you only watch the One Piece side, you’re literally jumping into the middle of a race. The plot? It’s thin. There’s a "World's Best Eating Tournament" (the Tenkaichi Shokukai) hosted by the International Gourmet Organization. The prize is the Carat Sizzled Cattle, a legendary meat that supposedly tastes like heaven.
It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds.
The Power Scale Problem
How do you make Luffy, Toriko, and Goku fight on the same level? You don't. Not logically, anyway.
In One Piece Episode 590, the writers basically ignore the fact that Goku could destroy the entire planet with a finger flick. They nerf him. Hard. They also buff Toriko and Luffy so they can keep up. It’s the kind of thing that makes "power scaling" nerds on Reddit lose their minds. But if you turn your brain off, it’s fun.
The highlight isn't the logic; it's the character interactions. Seeing Zoro, Zebra, and Vegeta—the three "grouchy" rivals of their respective shows—interact is gold. They don't even really talk; they just vibe in their mutual annoyance.
- Sanji and Komatsu (the chef from Toriko) geeking out over ingredients.
- Chopper being terrified of basically everything.
- The inevitable "who can eat more" contest between the three protagonists.
The animation for this special was handled by Toei, and while it's not "movie quality," it’s significantly better than the standard weekly episodes of the Dressrosa or Punk Hazard era. They clearly put the "A-team" on the fight choreography for the final segment.
The "Akami" Monster and the Real Conflict
The story shifts from a friendly race to a battle against a "Deep Sea Glutton" called Akami. This creature absorbs the energy of its attackers. This is the classic "team-up" trope. Luffy uses Elephant Gun, Toriko uses his Twin Nail Punch, and Goku goes Super Saiyan.
Again, in a real fight, Goku would have finished this in 0.2 seconds. But we’re here for the spectacle.
The climax involves a combined attack that feels like a heavy-metal version of a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s loud. It’s colorful. It’s completely unnecessary to the plot of the Straw Hats' journey to the New World.
But that's the charm of One Piece Episode 590. It’s a time capsule. It represents 2013 anime culture, where Toriko was being positioned as the "third pillar" alongside One Piece and Naruto. Spoilers: it didn't quite work out that way, but this episode remains as a testament to that ambition.
Fact-Checking the Crossover
A lot of people think this was the first time these guys met. It wasn't. There was a previous crossover (Episode 492) that featured only One Piece and Toriko. One Piece Episode 590 was the "upgrade" because they finally convinced the Dragon Ball camp to join the party.
Interestingly, the episode actually aired to celebrate the third year of the Toriko anime. In Japan, these specials are treated as huge television events, often airing on Sunday mornings when families are watching together.
Is It Worth Watching?
If you’re binging One Piece for the story, you can skip it. 100%. Nothing that happens here impacts the hunt for the One Piece or the fight against Doflamingo.
However, if you're a fan of Shonen history, it's a must-watch. It’s one of the few times you’ll see the "Big Three" of that specific era sharing a screen. It’s also genuinely funny to see how the different art styles are mashed together. Luffy looks a bit more "angular" than usual to match the Dragon Ball aesthetic.
Common Misconceptions:
- It's a Movie: Nope. Just a TV special aired in an episode slot.
- It's Canon: Absolutely not. Luffy doesn't have a "Goku phase" in the manga.
- It's Episode 591: Some sites mislabel the numbering due to the Toriko half of the special. In the official One Piece manifest, it is #590.
Most fans struggle to find it because of those licensing issues I mentioned. If it’s not on your streaming service, it’s likely because the "Dragon Ball" license expired for that specific crossover. It happens.
How to Handle the "Missing" Episode 590
If you are currently watching the series and realize your skip-meter is off, don't panic. You haven't missed any lore.
The best way to approach One Piece Episode 590 is to treat it like a "What If?" comic book. It’s a break from the high-stakes drama of the New World. After the heaviness of the Fish-Man Island themes and the upcoming tragedy of Dressrosa, a 20-minute break to watch three idiots eat a giant cow is actually kind of refreshing.
What you should do next:
- Check the Numbering: If your streaming service jumps from 589 to 591, just move on. You aren't missing any plot.
- Search for Toriko Episode 99: If you really want to see the full story, you have to find the Toriko episode first. Without it, the beginning of 590 makes zero sense.
- Don't Scale It: Do not try to use this episode to prove Luffy is stronger than Goku. You will lose that argument, and you will be annoyed by the "plot armor" used to keep them equal.
- Watch for the Background Gags: The best parts of the episode are in the background. Look at what the supporting casts are doing while the "big guys" are fighting. The interactions between Nami, Robin, and the Toriko characters are actually quite sharp.
Ultimately, One Piece Episode 590 is a weird, loud, and joyful celebration of Shonen Jump. It’s not "peak fiction," but it’s peak entertainment for anyone who grew up with a controller in one hand and a volume of manga in the other. It doesn't need to be canon to be a classic piece of anime history.