Hello, Mr. President . . . My, you look handsome today . . . You'd look even better if you would take off that cumbersome jacket . . . .and the shirt underneath . . . .strike a pose for us, will you, Mr. President?

Touga Kiryuu is president of the Student Council and the hottest bod at Ohtori. Despite his well-deserved reputation as a playboy, Touga seems to actually fall, and fall hard, for Utena Tenjou. Is this love, or just lust? What are Touga's real motives for chasing after Utena?

Touga Kiryuu is more knowleadgeable of End of the World's true motives than anyone else at the start of the series. Later, Touga serves as Akio's right-hand man. Despite Touga's continued assertations that he is a "prince," "chivalrous," and "a friend to all women," he gleefully plays the role of the macho jerk. His advances toward Utena range from coyly manipulative to downright degrading ("I'm sorry that you need an excuse to see me," he says while Utena thanks him for saving her life in episode ten.). Touga puts himself in mortal danger to protect Utena . . . and a few episodes later he attempts to convince her that he is her long-lost prince, just so that he can defeat her in a duel and humiliate her. Despite the struggle between them, Utena and Touga are seen together relaxing and talking as friends. It's not all that confusing - Touga just lets himself be ruled by his hormones, that's all. Touga's persona is arrogant, confident, and sauve. He is a major player in all campus affairs, and has his fingers in numerous pies. Touga is an expert fencer and intelligent student. Touga's greatest weakness is that he is so used to getting his way, that it destroys his ego when he is denied what he desires. This may account for his attraction to Utena. Touga uses charm and manipulation to get his way. He delights in making Saoinji look bad while he himself looks good. He subtly nudges Juri and Miki into doing what he wants, and Nanami's devotion to him assures that she is wrapped around his finger. Touga even manipulates Utena into believing that he is her prince. The only person that Touga answers to is Akio. Towards the end of the series, Touga's character changes dramatically. Actually, a better way of describing it would be that our perceptions of him change. His love for Utena appears geniune, and he tries to pull her away from Akio so that she won't become his tool to gain the power of Dios. He even confesses his love for her. He certainly appears honest . . . but is he really? Or is he just frustrated that Utena is the only woman who has ever turned him down, thus making her all the more desirable to him?

The unresolved romance between Touga and Utena becomes all the more tantalizing in the movie "Adolescense Mokushiroku." There is a large contingent of fans that absolutely adore Touga Kiryuu. There is another group of fans who say that he should end up with Utena. What do you think? Whatever your opinion is, there are those who share it with you and those that don't. Touga is one of the most controversial characters in the series. But all that complexity makes him sexy, doesn't it?

The sexy picture of Touga on this page is courtesy of Utena Through a Rose Colored Lens.