Elephant from "Zoo Story"
「動物園物語」より 象
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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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)
Keiko Môri
Hisako (Student mobilization)
Keiji Sakakida
Postman
Akio Kusama
Ueno Police Chief
Hiroshi Akitsu
Old skilled worker
Tadashi Okabe
Newspaper reporter Tsurumi
Ren Yamamoto
Newspaper reporter Kanayama
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Kajirō Yamamoto
- Screenplay & Story
- Kajirō Yamamoto
- Original Score
- Urato Watanabe
- Original Title
- 「動物園物語」より 象
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 1h 7m
- Production Studios
- TOHO
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kajirō Yamamoto
Kajirō Yamamoto, Saburo Fukuda
Urato Watanabe
Chozo Obata
Jin Usami
Department Leadership Roster
Kajirō Yamamoto
Director
Kajirō Yamamoto
Screenplay
Chozo Obata
Editor
Jin Usami
Producer
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Frequently Asked Questions About Elephant from "Zoo Story"
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Elephant from "Zoo Story" about?
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.
Who directed Elephant from "Zoo Story"?
Elephant from "Zoo Story" was directed by Kajirō Yamamoto.
Who stars in Elephant from "Zoo Story"?
The principal cast of Elephant from "Zoo Story" includes Kenichi Enomoto, Keiju Kobayashi, Momoko Kôchi, Kyōko Anzai, Yoshio Kosugi.
When was Elephant from "Zoo Story" released and how long is it?
Elephant from "Zoo Story" was released in 1957 with a total runtime of 1h 7m.
Who composed the musical score for Elephant from "Zoo Story"?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Elephant from "Zoo Story" was composed by Urato Watanabe.