Elephant from
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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Cast

Kenichi Enomoto Kenichi Enomoto As: Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
Keiju Kobayashi Keiju Kobayashi As: Head of Animal Care Division, Higashi
Momoko Kôchi Momoko Kôchi As: Yoshiko (Student mobilization)
Kyōko Anzai Kyōko Anzai As: Miyazawa Sensei
Yoshio Kosugi Yoshio Kosugi As: Sugiura (Gatekeeper)
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Storyline

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.


Tagline:
Certification: Unknown

Details

Genres: Drama

Language: 日本語

Release Date: 09 April 1957

Country: JP

Runtime: 67m

Company Credits

Company: TOHO

External Links

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)

Keiji Sakakida

Keiji Sakakida

Postman

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

Takashi Itô

Takashi Itô

Akemi Ueno

Akemi Ueno

Reiko Wakamizu

Reiko Wakamizu

Kimiko Naito

Kimiko Naito

Yûko Nogami

Yûko Nogami

Amagi Sanae

Amagi Sanae

Masako Tsutsumi

Masako Tsutsumi

Sayama's wife

Directed By

Kajirō Yamamoto

Kajirō Yamamoto

Director

Koji Kajita

Koji Kajita

Assistant Director

Toshiie Sakigami

Toshiie Sakigami

Assistant Director

Writing Credits

Saburo Fukuda

Saburo Fukuda

Original Story

Kajirō Yamamoto

Kajirō Yamamoto

Screenplay

Production Crew

Jin Usami

Jin Usami

Producer

Hidehisa Suga

Hidehisa Suga

Production Manager

Edited By

Costume and Makeup

Not currently known.

Sound

Urato Watanabe

Urato Watanabe

Music

Shin Watarai

Shin Watarai

Recording Supervision

Visual Effects

Not currently known.

Camera

Hajime Koizumi

Hajime Koizumi

Camera Department Manager

Goichi Araki

Goichi Araki

Camera Supervisor

Lighting

Soichi Yokoi

Soichi Yokoi

Lighting Director

Art Department

Tatsuo Kita

Tatsuo Kita

Art Department Manager

Other Crew

Not currently known.

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