The Figure of Dewi Soekarno: Renouncing Indonesian Citizenship to Form a Political Party in Japan

Ratna Sari Dewi is officially recorded as the fifth wife of President Soekarno, and is widely known as Dewi Soekarno. Her name has become a subject of discussion following a surprising decision to renounce her Indonesian citizenship. Dewi took this action in order to found a political party in Japan.

Japanese regulations require that the founders of a political party must be Japanese citizens, rather than foreign nationals. Consequently, Ratna Soekarno relinquished her Indonesian status to become a Japanese citizen. In Japan, she is known as Dewi Fujin.

After officially obtaining Japanese citizenship, Dewi founded a party named the 12 Peace Party (Wan-Nyan Heiwa-to), which focuses on animal protection issues, including the prohibition of consuming dog and cat meat.

Meeting Soekarno

Dewi Soekarno was originally a Japanese woman born Naoko Nemoto. She holds a significant place in Indonesian history as she was part of the inner circle of power as the fifth wife of President Soekarno.

The union between Soekarno and Naoko began on 16 June 1959. During a visit to Japan, Soekarno dined at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, where he was entertained by Naoko Nemoto, then a 19-year-lan woman performing traditional arts. Soekarno fell in love immediately, though he did not express his feelings right away. Three months later, he invited Naoko to Indonesia, and the two reunited in Jakarta on 14 September 1959.

As they grew closer, they married on 3 March 1962. This marriage added to Soekarno’s lineage of wives, and Naoko adopted the name Ratna Sari Dewi and converted to Islam. From this marriage, they had a daughter, Kartika Sari Dewi, born in Tokyo on 11 March 1967. Unfortunately, the marriage between Soekarno and Dewi Ratna Sari did not last long, ending in divorce in 1970.

Despite their separation, Soekarno expressed profound love for Ratna Sari Dewi, stating she was the only woman who should be placed beside his grave. The Proclamator once remarked that if she were to pass away, she should be buried alongside him.

Following the divorce, Dewi lived in various countries, including France, Switzerland, the United States, and Indonesia, before eventually returning to Japan. During this period, she was known for her luxurious lifestyle. Reports from 1992 noted her residence in luxury apartments and her presence at high-profile social events, often adorned in glamorous fashion and jewellery.

Often referred to as Madam Soekarno, she socialised with the global elite, including the oil tycoon Adnan Khashoggi. Her lifestyle was supported by her involvement in the construction and heavy equipment business while living abroad. Throughout her travels, she raised her beloved daughter, Kartika. Upon reaching adulthood, Kartika married Fritz Frederic, President of Citibank Europe, and had a son, Frederik Kiran Soekarno, in 2006.

Since 2008, Ratna Sari Dewi Soekarno has no longer resided in Indonesia. She decided to settle in Japan, eventually renouncing her Indonesian citizenship after 63 years in 2025.

Dewi Soekarno’s Life in Japan

Now 86 years old, Dewi Soekarno continues to use Japan as her primary base of activity. She remains active in attending social events, art performances, and charitable activities, and frequently appears in the Japanese media. In May 2026, for instance, she was seen attending the sumo tournament final at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, wearing a kimono in a VIP seat.

Regrettably, her political aspirations did not endure. Her party was eventually dissolved in April 2025 after plans for candidacy in the Japanese elections were cancelled.