Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Ring. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Journalist Kazuyuki Asakawa learns that the curse of the cursed videotape, which kills viewers in seven days, is lifted not by finding Sadako's body but by copying the tape and showing it to someone else. To save his wife and daughter, who have watched it, he drives to his in-laws with the tape and a VCR, ready to spread the curse.
Quick facts
– Book: Ring by Koji Suzuki
– First published: 1991
– Type: A Japanese horror novel
– Tone of the ending: Chilling
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Four teenagers die at the same time. Asakawa investigates and watches the tape, which shows strange images and warns that the viewer will die in a week. With his friend Ryuji, he learns the tape was created by the psychic power of Sadako Yamamura, who was murdered and thrown in a well.
What Happens at the End of Ring
Asakawa and Ryuji find Sadako's remains in the well and believe the curse is broken. But Ryuji dies on the seventh day. Asakawa realizes he survived because he copied the tape for Ryuji. He decides to make copies for his family. He worries about spreading the curse like a virus.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The curse spreads through copies.
- Ryuji dies.
- Asakawa chooses his family over strangers.
- The curse becomes a virus.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Kazuyuki Asakawa | Spreads the curse |
| Ryuji Takayama | Dies |
| Sadako Yamamura | The curse's source |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows the horror of a curse that spreads like a disease.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers who know the films are often surprised by how much of the novel is a slow investigation, with the horror coming from the deadline rather than jump scares. The idea of a curse spreading like a virus fit fears about technology and media in the 1990s.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Fear. The curse terrifies.
Family. Asakawa saves his family.
Contagion. The curse spreads.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Ring as chilling. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Koji Suzuki to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are chilling will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Koji Suzuki closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1998 film Ringu and the 2002 US remake both use the copying twist but change many details, including the main character's gender.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Ring with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about fear, and do you agree with Koji Suzuki's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as chilling, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces fear and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Koji Suzuki leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Ring often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Ring earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Books to Read After Ring
- Spiral by Koji Suzuki
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Ring?
Journalist Kazuyuki Asakawa learns that the curse of the cursed videotape, which kills viewers in seven days, is lifted not by finding Sadako's body but by copying the tape and showing it to someone else. To save his wife and daughter, who have watched it, he drives to his in-laws with the tape and a VCR, ready to spread the curse.
Is the ending of Ring happy or sad?
Most readers call it chilling.
What does the ending of Ring mean?
The ending shows the horror of a curse that spreads like a disease.
Is the ending of Ring the same in the adaptation?
The 1998 film Ringu and the 2002 US remake both use the copying twist but change many details, including the main character's gender.
Who wrote Ring and when was it published?
Ring was written by Koji Suzuki and first published in 1991.
Is Ring worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy Japanese horror novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Koji Suzuki prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Ring before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.