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.
as Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
as Head of Animal Care Division, Higashi
as Yoshiko (Student mobilization)
as Miyazawa Sensei
as Sugiura (Gatekeeper)
as Tamura (Lion Officer)
as Director of Toda Zoo
as Tetsu (Zen's wife)
as Takahashi (Leopard)
as Ito (Small Bird)
as Inoue (Camel handler)
as Narita (Sergeant)
as Hisako (Student mobilization)
as Postman
as Ueno Police Chief
as Old skilled worker
as Newspaper reporter Tsurumi
as Newspaper reporter Kanayama
as Auxiliary Military Police
as Sendai Zoo Director
as Sayama's wife
