Penguins in the Sky-Asahiyama Zoo

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Movie: Penguins in the Sky-Asahiyama Zoo
Romaji: Asahiyama Dobutsuen Monogatari
Japanese: 旭山動物園物語ペンギンが空をとぶ
Director: Masahiko Tsugawa (as Masahiko Makino)
Writer: Yasuhiro Koshimizu, Masao Kosuge
Producer: Taiichi Inoue, Hisao Nabeshima, Tsuguhiko Kadokawa
Cinematographer: Katsuhiro Kato
Release Date: February 7, 2009
Runtime:
Studio: Kadokawa Pictures
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot

Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido, is the northernmost zoo in Japan. The unpopular zoo welcomes a new zoo keeper, young Yoshida (Yasuhi Nakamura), who has more affection for insects than people after years of being bullied at school when he was young. Yoshida soon realizes that Asahiyama Zoo is facing a financial crisis and the zoo director Takizawa (Toshiyuki Nishida) has been doing everything in his power to save the zoo from closing down.

Moved by Takizawa’s passion, Yoshida and other zoo keepers came to share the zoo director’s belief that one’s dreams can come true, and together they tackle this seemingly impossible task of revitalizing Asahiyama. A breakthrough arrives in the form of “Behavioral Exhibition,” a method that is pioneered by Ashiyama’s zoo keepers and which eventually makes the zoo renowned throughout the world.

Notes

Based on the true story of the Asahiyama Zoo, which opened in 1967.
In 1994, when a Gorilla and a Lemur died of Echinococcus, the zoo was closed before the regular season to prevent contagion, which resulted in a decline in the number of visitors.
Since 1997, the zoo has built unique interactive animal viewing facilities to attract more visitors (initiated by chief manager Masao Kosuge - played by Toshiyuki Nishida).
Since that time the Zoo has now become one of the most successful zoos in Japan (ranking second in visitors in 2006 just behind the Ueno Zoo).

Cast

Trailer

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Comments

Comment #4
June Says:
Feb 20 2011 10:00 am

Very uplifting movie. Exciting just by reading subtitles!
Comment #3
Angeles Mendoza Says:
Feb 11 2010 11:36 am

One of best Japanese movies I have watched. It is worth watching by evereyone, especially people working on environmental or conservation issues. It is great to see how the ingenuity and commitment of the zoo's staff challenges the political and economic interests that want to close the zoo forever. I loved how the movie shows the connection between animals and humans.
Comment #2
sanaz Says:
Jan 15 2010 11:04 pm

It was a real movie..I enjoyed the foundation and the spirits....I have translated the film into persian language and that was a real pleasure for me..now I beleive that pinguins really can fly high in the sky...well done everyone
Comment #1
Kamenrider74 Says:
May 26 2009 10:27 pm

it was such an awesome movie! I watched it twice on the plane! It was kinda sad, but I loved it so much! The story was really touching!