Miyoko is a gravely ill young girl whose brother, Hide, vows to fulfill her desperate wish to see a real elephant after the war. Her declining health and unwavering hope propel Hide’s determined quest to locate one at the zoo. During his search, he meets an elderly man burdened by memories of the Ueno Zoo tragedy, where wartime protocols led to the systematic slaughter of elephants and other dangerous animals—executed via starvation, poisoning, and decapitation—to prevent potential havoc from Allied bombings. These killings occurred over a year before Tokyo faced air raids, extinguishing any chance of Miyoko encountering surviving elephants. Her personal anguish intertwines with the broader historical narrative of wartime loss and moral conflicts, underscoring the devastating consequences of choices made under extreme duress.