Elephant from "Zoo Story"
67 mins
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.
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)
Keiko Môri
Hisako (Student mobilization)
Hiroshi Akitsu
Old skilled worker
Kazuyo Fukuda
Auxiliary Military Police
Takeo Oikawa
Sendai Zoo Director
Saburo Fukuda
Original Story
Urato Watanabe
Music
Soichi Yokoi
Lighting Director
Tatsuo Kita
Art Department Manager
Shin Watarai
Recording Supervision
Chozo Obata
Editor
Jin Usami
Producer
Hidehisa Suga
Production Manager
Goichi Araki
Camera Supervisor
Toshiie Sakigami
Assistant Director