Movielogr
Elephant from "Zoo Story" (1957)
Directed by Kajirô Yamamoto
Overview
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.
Length 67 minutes
Actors
Kenichi Enomoto | Keiju Kobayashi | Momoko Kôchi | Kyôko Anzai | Yoshio Kosugi | Sachio Sakai | Sôji Ubukata | Noriko Honma | Okayu Taka | Akira Sera | Mitsuo Tsuda | Tadao Nakamaru | Keiko Môri | Keiji Sakakida | Akio Kusama | Hiroshi Akitsu | Tadashi Okabe | Ren Yamamoto | Kazuyo Fukuda | Takeo Oikawa | Takashi Itô | Akemi Ueno | Reiko Wakamizu | Kimiko Naito | Yûko Nogami | Amagi Sanae | Masako Tsutsumi