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Cast
Kenichi Enomoto
as Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
Keiju Kobayashi
as Head of Animal Care Division, Higashi
Momoko Kôchi
as Yoshiko (Student mobilization)
Kyōko Anzai
as Miyazawa Sensei
Yoshio Kosugi
as Sugiura (Gatekeeper)
Sachio Sakai
as Tamura (Lion Officer)
Sōji Ubukata
as Director of Toda Zoo
Noriko Honma
as Tetsu (Zen's wife)
Okayu Taka
as Takahashi (Leopard)
Akira Sera
as Ito (Small Bird)
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1957
Runtime1h 07m
LanguageJapanese
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes—
DirectorKajirō Yamamoto
WritersKajirō Yamamoto
TypeFeature Film
RatingNot rated yet
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsElephant from "Zoo Story"
About Elephant from "Zoo Story"
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.
Directed by Kajirō Yamamoto, Elephant from "Zoo Story" leans on a strong ensemble — Kenichi Enomoto, Keiju Kobayashi, Momoko Kôchi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1957.
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