Taizō Kirihara

Character Outline
Taizo Kirihara (桐原 泰三 Kirihara Taizō) is the founder of the Kirihara Industries (桐原産業 Kirihara Sangyō) and leader of the Kyoto house, which aids the resistance groups by giving them weapons and such. He is an elderly man whose wealth was from the mining of sakuradite. During the Kururugi Administration, he had a lot of influence to support the government as a behind-the-scenes administrator. When Genbu Kururugi died he kept the news hidden from even the nation for a while. Kirihara was the one that assigned Tohdoh to be Suzaku's sensei when Suzaku was younger.

He was later called a traitor of the Japanese following the Britannian invasion when it was learned that he was helping Britannia, yet he was helping Japan by telling them some of the Britannian's plans. He knew Lelouch and Nunnally when they were living at the Kururugi Shrine. He also tells the Black Knights to trust Zero when Zero shows Kirihara who he is to get weapons and funding for the Black Knights. Kirihara was executed after the Black Rebellion for helping several Resistance groups and betraying Britannia.

Appearence
Taizo Kirihara is a male, and he is a Japanese. When he first appeared he wore glasses, and he was bold. His pupils are black, and his skin tone is slightly tanned.

First Season
Zero and the core members of the Black Knights meet with Taizō Kirihara, one of the most powerful people in the Japanese underground and an acquaintance of Lelouch from his younger days at the Kururugi Shrine. Lelouch deftly displays his tactical prowess and wit before Taizō, revealing his true identity to the man to gain his trust and support. He is also seen at the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, worrying if Zero's identity was to be discovered. After Euphiemia's massacre Zero ask the Kyoto House members hand over their power to him, in order to establish the United States of Japan. He is later executed, after the Black Rebellion, along with the other members of the Kyoto House, except for Kaguya Sumeragi.