It's strange how much Chigusa is like many different characters and concepts rolled into one. For example, she is similar to Juri, who is also an athletic woman with a manly sense to her, very skilled at fencing; Chigusa resembles that of Mikage, a ghost, a reflection of the past. I'm not sure if Chigusa was conceived before the Black Rose Arc or not, but she bears striking resemblances to several aspects in Utena.

Her hair, for one, is symbolic of her nature. A character's hair length can help show their personality. Chigusa has long, thick, luxurious looking hair that curls at the end. Long hair can signify a sophisticated personality. The thick, slightly curled texture makes one think of aristocratic women who have their hair brushed out twenty times a day by other hands than their own.

Chigusa appears outwardly elegant, calm, and easy-going. However, inside she is far from this. This is where this site's name is derived: Elegant, meaning an elegant air she surrounds herself in, and Destruction, meaning her destructive nature on the inside that she keeps well hidden.

I think she is one of the best characters in Utena. I liked the Black Rose Arc immensely, and I also liked Mikage as well. I think it's great to have a sophisticated, troubled woman as a bad guy. She and Mikage are so alike, it's uncanny. Mikage burned down Nemuro Memorial Hall with jealousy for Tokiko ripping his heart, while Chigusa burned down the fencing hall for lover's jealousy as well. Mikage is actually a reflection of his past self, Professor Nemuro, like Chigusa's present form, which many people believe is a reflection on herself fifteen years in the past.

Every character in Utena has a weakness, even the almighty Akio (who I believe hides his weaknesses and fears by making the weaknesses of others more apparent). Chigusa is no exception. She is weak in the sense that she's sensitive and power hungry. She tries to control the duelists so she can beat Utena in a duel. She's sensitive to her own feelings, and she hates the player only because she is the offspring of her beloved and his wife. Chigusa wishes to gain the power to revolutionize the world so that she may control time, and go back fifteen years to fetch the one she loves.

Her lover looks remarkably like Touga (except with brown hair), and the player's mother looks like Nanami (except with deep violet locks pulled away from her face). Their faces are never revealed. However, I think that the Mikage-effect would be great here (Mikage-effect meaning that Mikage looks at Utena and sees Tokiko, looks at Anthy and sees Mamiya). What if Chigusa, instead of seeing Touga, saw her lover? Things could get heated. And why does Chigusa's lover look like Touga? That fact is strange within itself. Is there some hidden correlation? ^_^

 

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