The day has finally come. Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been inaugurated as Singapore’s ninth president today (Sep 14). And with all the attention focused on Mr. Tharman, the spotlight naturally also falls on his spouse, and that is none other than former lawyer Jane Yumiko Ittogi.
But don’t mistake her as just the President’s wife — Ms. Ittogi is a powerful individual who has built a name for herself through her law practice, contributions to Singapore’s art scene, and activism. Here are 10 things you should know about Singapore’s new First Lady.
1. She doesn’t speak Japanese
From her name, Jane Yumiko Ittogi, one would probably assume she’s fluent in Japanese. She may be learning a few phrases here and there, but she doesn’t actually speak the language.
Tharman mused in an Instagram post that people will occasionally come up to the couple at hawker centres to practise their Japanese. Thankfully, they share a sense of humour and will just have a good laugh while explaining that she doesn’t speak Japanese. In fact, her true mother tongue is Teochew.
2. She comes from a Japanese-Singaporean-Chinese family
That’s not to say that she doesn’t have Japanese blood. Ms. Ittogi comes from a Japanese and Singaporean-Chinese family. Her father was a Japanese merchant, while her mother was a Singaporean.
Ms. Ittogi was born in Japan and spent the first few years of her life there. She then moved to Singapore at the age of 3 with her parents.
3. She worked as a lawyer
Ms. Ittogi is a lawyer by training. She completed her Master of Laws degree at the London School of Economics. That’s where she met Tharman, who enrolled in the university a few years later.
After undergoing pupillage, the final stage of training to be a barrister, she worked for a few years in London. She also lectured in various areas such as banking, shipping, and commercial law — and was also head of an in-house legal department.
Although she hasn’t been practising for over 20 years, she’s still listed as a partner at law firm Shook Lin & Bok.
4. She was a writer at The Straits Times
Besides being a lawyer, Jane Ittogi also has a creative side. She was a feature and lead writer for The Strait Times for a few years in the ’80s. However, it seems writing isn’t her ikigai, as she soon returned to the law scene.
5. She’s a contributor to the arts scene in Singapore
Ms. Ittogi is also a fierce advocate of Singapore’s arts scene. She’s served as a board member at various cultural institutions such as the National Heritage Board, The National Art Gallery, and Lasalle College of the Arts. She also chaired the Singapore Art Museum’s advisory board when it was still under the National Heritage Board (NHB), guiding it through its corporatisation in 2013.
“Under her stewardship, the Singapore Art Museum has established our voice in the Southeast Asian and global contemporary art scene and made the visual arts accessible to more Singaporeans,” Ms. Grace Fu said in a press statement in 2018.
But that’s not all — she also co-chaired the National Arts Council selection committee for the Singapore Pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale, a prestigious international art exhibition that spotlights contemporary cultural and social issues through art and architecture.
6. She champions social causes
Her heart lies not just in the arts — the 69-year-old also gives back to the community. Ms. Ittogi is an active philanthropist who has dedicated her time to helping the underprivileged. She started Tasek Jurong, a non-profit company, a decade ago. Its aim is to help disadvantaged children and youth in Jurong, especially young teens.
She also believes in championing public engagement through collaborating within communities. Ms. Ittogi started a certificated art programme of art training in prisons in the mid-2000s, run by volunteers from Lasalle College of the Arts and professional curators from the national museums. She also sourced funding and books, setting up an arts library within the prisons.
7. She’s an alumnus of St. Margaret’s Secondary School
She’s listed in the school’s Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame alongside illustrious alumni like war heroine Elizabeth Choy, lawyer and women’s rights activist Dr Anamah Tan, and actress Eunice Olsen. She’s specifically recognised for her contributions to the Singapore arts scene.
8. She’s been married to Tharman for 33 years
While Ms. Jane Ittogi has made a name for herself through her work and social activism, she’s recently been put in the spotlight as the wife of Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, following his presidential election win. And it’s only natural for Singaporeans to be curious about their relationship.
Well, the couple has been married for 33 years and share a blissful marriage. They often spend quality time together despite their busy schedules, including going on frequent midnight walks. The newly-elected president has also poked fun at his wife’s height: “I walk much faster than her because I’m much taller. So I zig-zag around her, while she walks straight. That way we can talk while we walk.”
9. She’s a mother to one daughter and three sons
Together, the couple has four children together: Maya, Akash, Krishan, and Arjun Shanmugaratnam.
Their eldest child is also their only daughter. Maya has followed in Jane’s footsteps and is a lawyer and co-founder of The Policy Lab, a non-profit organisation. Meanwhile, their second child Akash is a software engineer who delves into the tech industry. He co-founded Crayon Data, a Singapore-based AI and Big Data company.
Their two younger kids, Krishnan and Arjun, are students at the National University of Singapore and Singapore American School respectively.
10. She’s often dressed in bright colours
Last but definitely not least, who says the First Lady can’t have impeccable style? Ms. Jane Ittogi often attends events and conferences in her own distinct style, wearing colourful kebayas and eclectic accessories. One recent example is her eye-catching cherry-red batik skirt and blouse ensemble on Nomination Day in August.
