RAJA AMPAT, Indonesia -- Among Southeast Asia's major powers is Indonesia. Its president, Joko Widodo, a furniture maker, has risen to become the leader of this nation of 260 million people.

Jokowi, as he is popularly known, spoke to the Nikkei Asian Review not at his official residence, the Merdeka Palace in the capital, Jakarta, but some 3,000km to the northwest on a jetty in the Raja Ampat Islands, an archipelago off the coast of West Papua Province on the island of New Guinea. He was barefoot and wearing his trademark white shirt, the sun gleaming on the emerald green sea, as we got started at 6:30 a.m.

"I've seen that this is the best, in Indonesia, Raja Ampat is the best," Jokowi declared. A look beneath the jetty revealed multicolored tropical fish and coral reefs beneath clear waters. "You can not only dive, you can fish as well. I had fun yesterday, too."

A parrot in red and green regalia made its way leisurely across the sky. It is no wonder international travelers call this place a paradise. But its openness must have given nightmares to the president's security people.

"I want to create 10 tourist sites like the island of Bali. This is one of the candidates," Jokowi said, explaining his choice of venue for the interview. It would, he said, help convey Indonesia's appeal.

The Raja Ampat Islands are famous for their tropical fish and coral reefs. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)

Since he entered politics, Jokowi has been hands-on. In the three-plus years since he was sworn in as president in October 2014, he has made nearly 500 official visits around the vast Indonesian archipelago. "If you don't visit local sites, you cannot really understand the needs," Jokowi said. "For instance, by coming here, you learn that development of roads and harbors in Papua is lagging behind Java and elsewhere."

Indonesia stretches 5,000km from east to west -- further than the continental U.S. -- comprising some 17,000 islands. Joko flies around the country, seemingly every day. Although he sometimes travels thousands of kilometers a day, his staff say Jokowi never looks haggard.

Unlike past Indonesian presidents, who ensconced themselves in the presidential palace, Joko likes being among the citizenry, letting people take selfies with him. He is a man of simple tastes, enjoying fried rice and satay, a dish that can be had for a few dollars.

Jokowi's candid, down-to-earth personality has won him many fans. Among Indonesian internet users, one frequently comes across the phrase, "Jokowi is my president." Late last year, he appeared on the street wearing a T-shirt and invited citizens to the presidential palace to celebrate the new year.

"I have a good understanding of this country's bureaucratic system," Jokowi said. "It's important to check and push. If I confirm something once, the ministers confirm it 12 times. And the director generals confirm it another 12 times. It is through this chain that things progress."

Jokowi has been known to call his ministers or director generals at all hours of the day and night if there is a problem. Senior officials can never relax, but it is this tension that has kept the president's agenda moving forward.

Jokowi was born in Indonesia's old capital of Surakarta -- formerly called Solo -- in central Java. His family was of modest means and lived near a river bed. They were repeatedly forced to relocate as the city grew, leaving behind neighbors with whom they had become close. The capriciousness of the bureaucracy stung the young Jokowi.

Working his way through school, he was eventually admitted to the prestigious Gadjah Mada University and after graduating took a job in the furniture factory that had become the family business. Jokowi was a good manager, delivering products on time and cutting costs. Through hard work he was able to begin exporting to Europe, achieving success as an entrepreneur.

Jokowi embarked on his political journey in 2004 having come to a sudden realization: "I saw my hometown and wondered why there had been no progress in years," he said.

The reason he hit on was the reams of red tape he encountered daily in business. "I doubted that it was all that hard to manage the town. So I gave it a try -- and it turned out to be extremely difficult." But it instilled Jokowi with a sense of mission to improve his own village. That set him on a political career path.

His family, starting with his wife, Iriana, was vehemently opposed. Joko himself, not easily ruffled, called it a "total change," as it meant leaving behind his position as a business manager, which he had long toiled to attain. "Even when I explained my vision as a politician, they were still against it," he recalled with a wry smile. He continued to make his case with his family and friends regarding the kind of policies he wanted to implement, and "ultimately, although they didn't necessarily agree with me, even my family supported it, saying, 'If that's what Dad wants.'"

Widodo is trying to draw international visitors' attention to lesser known destinations, such as the Raja Ampat Islands, off the coast of New Guinea. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)

In 2005, Jokowi was elected mayor of Surakarta. Through dialogue with residents and unannounced visits, he was able to get his own grasp on the problems the city was facing and resolve them, establishing the political style that he has stuck with to this day. He eliminated bribery and created a single contact point for permits and licenses. When it came to street vendors and redevelopment, he shared meals with people on both sides and made every effort to ensure that people did not have to make the sacrifices he had to as a child.

In 2012, he won the governorship of Jakarta exhibiting his characteristic energy in the capital, including touring flood-ravaged areas by boat. The "Jokowi whirlwind" was soon blowing across the country. Backed by enthusiastic supporters, he won the presidency in 2014.

In just under 10 years, he has transformed himself from head of a furniture factory to regional leader to president of Indonesia. The speed of the change might seem bewildering, but, said Jokowi: "Because I took it in steps, from city to province to country, there wasn't really any shock. At each level, the scale of the problems is different, but other than that the fundamentals are the same."

Jokowi's career is highly unusual for an Indonesian politician, most of whom are from well-known families or have military backgrounds. He prides himself on changing the country as the first "common man" to lead it. "All Indonesians have equal opportunity," he said. "They can rise from the grass roots to the top. That is no longer taboo."

His current term runs through October 2019. While he has dropped strong hints that he will run again, he has been coy, saying, "That depends on the people. I think I'll keep a close watch to see if the people think I'm necessary." His motto is "Kerja, kerja, kerja." ("Work, work, work.") He values effort, not status or reputation, as he tries to create a country where anyone can shine.

Jokowi's motto shapes his approach to the presidency. Long vacations are not for him, but he does manage to find time for hobbies that relate to his job.

Widodo's main interest at the moment is archery. Last January he took part in the Open Archery Championship in Bogor, West Java, where contestants had four minutes to fire six arrows at a target 20 meters away. "I was just there to give support," Widodo said modestly after the match, but he approached the task with seriousness when it was his turn to shoot.

Widodo took up archery after becoming president in 2014. "Archery is a sport that requires concentration, just like the job of the presidency. To hit the bull's-eye you need to be highly focused," he said. "But even then, I didn't win." He said his dream is to be a member of the national team.

Widodo has another passion that seems incongruous with his sedate image: He is a dyed-in-the-wool headbanger. "I've liked heavy metal music since middle school. I listen to Metallica and Megadeth and all of the popular heavy metal bands." Getting lost in loud music is a way to collect your thoughts, he explained.

Widodo's love of heavy metal is no secret, and fans around the world celebrated when he won, becoming the world's first "Metalhead of State."

In a bit of heavy metal diplomacy, Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen presented Widodo with a boxed set of Metallica records signed by the band's drummer when he visited Indonesia last November. Widodo was visibly pleased that Rasmussen knew about his passion, and heavy metal was a good icebreaker for the two leaders.

Although the president busy schedule prevents Jokowi from attending many concerts, he goes when he can. Back in 2013, when he was governor of Jakarta, Widodo went to a Metallica concert and opted to rock out with the crowd in the stadium instead of sitting in the VIP section.

Widodo also received a bass guitar signed by Metallica's Robert Trujillo when he was acting governor. Rather than risk appearing to accept a bribe, he handed the gift over to the Corruption Eradication Commission. Turning down the perk may have stung a bit, but it enhanced his support with the public.