Sakiko Kanase (1935 – 3 October 1959), also known as Saliku Maisaroh, was a Japanese hostess, model, and teacher. She is best known as the competitor of Dewi Sukarno at Benibasha night club in which they both attracted the attention of President Sukarno which later married them.
Early life
Kanase was born in 1935.
Personal life
Marriages, family, and relationships
In
Kyoto, Kanase met with President
Sukarno after being introduced through the Kinoshita Sansho company.
She later converted to
Islam and changed her name to Saliku Maisaroh.
Kanase later married Sukarno in 1958.
Their marriage lasted until Kanase's death in October 1959.
Death
After married for one year to President Sukarno, Kanase committed
suicide at a house in
Menteng,
Central Jakarta, on 3 October 1959 at the age of 24, just three weeks after
Dewi Sukarno landing in
Jakarta. Her disappointment in Sukarno and her embarrassment because of Dewi, who was the second hostess after herself, to become Sukarno's favorite wife.
When she died, Sukarno and Dewi were in
Bali.
Kanase was buried on 4 October at Blok P Cemetery in
South Jakarta and her funeral was managed by M.A. Sabar, whose address is Jalan Pekalongan 4, Central Jakarta, which after being traced, was the residence of Brigadier General Sabur, Sukarno's aide who later became the commander of Tjakrabirawa Regiment, presidential guard special forces.
In 1977, her grave was moved to Japan by Japan consulate at the request of Kanase's parents.
With the help of a businessman in Jakarta, the burial was then carried out and the removal of the body cost around 1600 US dollars.
Kanase's death at that time had attracted the attention of the Japanese press.
, a famous weekly news magazine in
Tokyo, wrote a special report on the mystery of Kanase's death in its February 1960 edition.
The magazine also mentioned the presence of the two Japanese women in Jakarta, Kanase and Dewi, who were related to the business competition between Kinoshita Sansho and the Tonichi company.
Dewi later acknowledge on the existence of Kanase on 3 November 1959 after completing the ceremony in the Istana Negara room by facing the Quran and kris and then swearing in front of it witnessed by the adjutant Sabur and the head of the guard Mangli.
Career
Kanase started her career as a hostess and model at Benibasha night club in
Tokyo, the same club which was Dewi Sukarno work at before she moved to Copacabana night club.
In November 1958, she came to
Jakarta using the name Saliku Maisaroh to work as a teacher for a daughter of Kinoshita Sansho staff.
