Developing Japanese AI without knowing Japanese. How an Indonesian engineer found his challenge at GAOGAO

Husni Ramdhani, from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, arrived in Japan in March 2026 and is working as a software engineer at GAOGAO, developing AI agents. Inspired by a trip to Tokyo, he decided to move to Japan and is now taking on the challenge of developing AI products for major corporations in a global environment that does not require Japanese language skills.

"The things I built are being used by those major companies."

We spoke with Husni, who says this realization is what makes his work rewarding, about his journey to Japan, his job, and his future vision.

A one-week trip to Tokyo sparked his move to Japan. Meeting GAOGAO and the decision to head to Japan

— Could you tell us how you found out about GAOGAO and the story behind your move to Japan?

Before coming to Japan, I was working remotely for GAOGAO from our office in Yogyakarta. I had always wanted to work in Japan someday, but after visiting Tokyo for a trip in January 2025,that thought changed from "someday" to a conviction that "I must make this happen."changed.

The following month, I had an interview at the Jogja office withGAOGAO founder Teji-sanandHideyoshi-san, Group COO of GAOGAO PTE LTD / Representative Director of GAOGAO Inc.. At that time, I heard that GAOGAO was planning to open a global office in the Kansai region and that there was a possibility for members from Indonesia and Vietnam to work in Japan if they wished.
There were no guarantees at that point, but I felt it was a valuable opportunity to work in a Japanese corporate environment, which further increased my motivation to work in Japan. And now, I am actually living in Japan.

— What do you think makes GAOGAO different from other Japanese companies?

Providing opportunities to work in Japan without requiring any Japanese language skillsis something I think is very rare for a Japanese company. I knew of such cases at large companies like Rakuten, PayPay, Money Forward, and ZEALS, but I felt it was special that a company of GAOGAO's size is achieving that.

Amagasaki life starting with a 7 AM walk every morning

— Is there anything difficult about living in Japan?

I am a bit careful about my diet.
I need to be mindful of food that might contain pork or alcohol, but I'm not overly strict about it; I maintain a relatively flexible stance of "not eating pork and not drinking alcohol."

— You mentioned you are currently living in a share house in Amagasaki. How is the living environment?

I like it very much. It has become a daily routine for me to go for a walk at 7 AM every morning, and I haven't missed a day unless it's raining. The station is close, the members of the share house are all kind, and although it's been about two months since I arrived, I haven't felt any major inconveniences so far. It's a calm environment, and I'm able to focus on both my work and my life.

The things I built are running at those major companies — The front lines of AI agent development

— Could you tell us about your current work?

I am currently involved in an AI agent development project, working on development for shopping and general customer support. So far, I have been involved in product development for major travel agencies and major video streaming services.

— When do you feel the most rewarding part of your job?

During a dinner in Kobe, I saw a large department store and mentioned toGAOGAO member Hana-san, who was with me, "I recognize that logo." She asked back, "Wait, why do you know that?" I replied, "Actually, it's one of the projects I was involved in before."
I realized once again that my work is actually being used by major companies, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Also, when I was personally looking for hotels around Wakayama, I was redirected to a major travel agency site and realized, "This is also our client." That moment was also memorable.Being able to encounter the results of my work in everyday life is what makes this job interestingI think.

Click here for more details on GAOGAO's AI agent development

The day I stopped writing code. The honest thoughts of an engineer facing AI

— Could you tell us about how you use AI in your work?

I use AI every day, and it has significantly increased my development speed. However, AI-related technologies and knowledge are evolving at such a rapid pace that it is impossible to keep up with everything. Therefore, I make sure to focus my efforts on catching up only on what is directly relevant to my work or what is most beneficial.

On the other hand, in the nine months since I joined the AI agent development project, I have had almost no opportunities to write code myself. As someone who became an engineer because I originally loved coding, I have mixed feelings about that. As AI utilization advances, how do I continue to hone my skills as an engineer? This is a theme I am constantly grappling with right now.

— Is there anything you feel while working in GAOGAO's global team?

In an environment where diverse cultures intersect, there is an atmosphere of mutual respect for each other's backgrounds and values. I feel that being treated fairly and without prejudice is a major reason why we function well as a team.

Mapping out the next career step while working in Japan

— Could you tell us about your future career vision?

I am still studying Japanese. First, I want to master it to a level where I won't have any trouble with travel or daily conversation.
In my work, I am committed to further improving my English skills, and I also have a goal of eventually majoring in neuroscience and obtaining a master's degree. I don't know if I can achieve it yet, but that is my goal for now.

— Do you have a message for those interested in working abroad or at GAOGAO?

GAOGAO brings together people who are kind, talented, and fun to be around. It is an environment where you can freely talk about various topics, not just work. I can confidently recommend it to anyone looking for a wonderful workplace environment.

Summary

Inspired by his travel experiences, Husni decided to move to Japan and is now taking on the challenge of AI development in a global environment that does not require Japanese. GAOGAO is a rare global environment where you can take on challenges without needing Japanese. If you want to grow as an engineer on the world stage, please take a look at GAOGAO's recruitment information.

GAOGAO is actively looking for people who want to take on challenges as engineers or project managers in a global environment.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

▼ Click here for recruitment details

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