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.
Elephant from "Zoo Story"Drama
Cast
- 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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