This paper discusses how Ueno Zoo in Tokyo and Tennoji Zoo in Osaka received two elephants from Siam in 1935. The elephants were gifts from the Siamese Boy Scouts to their Japanese counterparts.

  The Federation of Boy Scouts in Japan had no intention of incurring any costs, such as transportation fees, salary and lodging expenses for the elephant handlers and construction costs of buildings for the elephants; all expenses were to be paid by the two cities. Thus, Tokyo and Osaka and the two zoos negotiated these matters with Siam. There was thus no opportunity for the federation to join in these practical negotiations.

  Ueno and Tennoji zoos had to construct new buildings and renovate their current facilities for the elephants. They paid about 10 thousand yen for the new and refurbished buildings. The two zoos also wanted the elephant handlers from Siam to stay for several months to train the Japanese handlers. Siam then requested that the two zoos pay 40 ticals (about 108 yen) per month as salaries for the Siamese handlers, as well as cover the expenses for their travel from and to Siam and stay in Japan.

  On 3 June, the two elephants, two handlers and three attendants arrived at Kobe Port and travelled to Tokyo and Osaka. Both zoos held parties welcoming the elephants on 8 June in Tokyo and 9 June in Osaka.