Elephant from "Zoo Story"

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

as Zen-san (Elephant Officer)

Keiju Kobayashi

as Head of Animal Care Division, Higashi

Momoko Kôchi

as Yoshiko (Student mobilization)

Kyōko Anzai

as Miyazawa Sensei

Yoshio Kosugi

as Sugiura (Gatekeeper)

Sachio Sakai

as Tamura (Lion Officer)

Sōji Ubukata

as Director of Toda Zoo

Noriko Honma

as Tetsu (Zen's wife)

Okayu Taka

as Takahashi (Leopard)

Akira Sera

as Ito (Small Bird)

Reviews

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