Feature film — 1957
Elephant from "Zoo Story" (1957)
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.
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Director: Kajirō Yamamoto
On screen
Cast & crew
Kenichi Enomoto
Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
Keiju Kobayashi
Head of Animal Care Division, Higashi
Momoko Kôchi
Yoshiko (Student mobilization)
Kyōko Anzai
Miyazawa Sensei
Yoshio Kosugi
Sugiura (Gatekeeper)
Sachio Sakai
Tamura (Lion Officer)
Sōji Ubukata
Director of Toda Zoo
Noriko Honma
Tetsu (Zen's wife)
Okayu Taka
Takahashi (Leopard)
Akira Sera
Ito (Small Bird)
Mitsuo Tsuda
Inoue (Camel handler)
Tadao Nakamaru
Narita (Sergeant)
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