Elephant from "Zoo Story"

1h 7min

Drama

The fifth film in the Toho Diamond series, following "The Hateful Thing." Based on the true story of "Zoo Story" by author Fukuda Saburo. During the Tokyo air raids of World War II, Zen-san, an elephant keeper at Ueno Zoo, is faced with the heartbreaking task of euthanizing Tonki, a beloved elephant, due to food shortages and wartime pressures. Unable to carry out the order, Zen-san secretly feeds Tonki, but the elephant is ultimately shot by the military police. The film poignantly captures Zen-san’s despair and the devastation of war, as he reflects on his powerlessness amid the chaos.

Cast

Kenichi Enomoto

Kenichi Enomoto

Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
Keiju Kobayashi

Keiju Kobayashi

Head of Animal Care Division, Higashi
Momoko Kôchi

Momoko Kôchi

Yoshiko (Student mobilization)
Kyōko Anzai

Kyōko Anzai

Miyazawa Sensei
Yoshio Kosugi

Yoshio Kosugi

Sugiura (Gatekeeper)
Sachio Sakai

Sachio Sakai

Tamura (Lion Officer)
Sōji Ubukata

Sōji Ubukata

Director of Toda Zoo
Noriko Honma

Noriko Honma

Tetsu (Zen's wife)
Okayu Taka

Okayu Taka

Takahashi (Leopard)
Akira Sera

Akira Sera

Ito (Small Bird)
Mitsuo Tsuda

Mitsuo Tsuda

Inoue (Camel handler)
Tadao Nakamaru

Tadao Nakamaru

Narita (Sergeant)
Keiko Môri

Keiko Môri

Hisako (Student mobilization)
Akio Kusama

Akio Kusama

Ueno Police Chief
Hiroshi Akitsu

Hiroshi Akitsu

Old skilled worker
Tadashi Okabe

Tadashi Okabe

Newspaper reporter Tsurumi
Ren Yamamoto

Ren Yamamoto

Newspaper reporter Kanayama
Kazuyo Fukuda

Kazuyo Fukuda

Auxiliary Military Police
Takeo Oikawa

Takeo Oikawa

Sendai Zoo Director
Masako Tsutsumi

Masako Tsutsumi

Sayama's wife

Release date

9th Apr 1957

Status

Released

Spoken languages

日本語