This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of Drops app in improving Japanese vocabulary acquisition among beginners. Based on the theory of cognitivism, the study used a descriptive qualitative method with a sample of 21 subjects who answered 11 questions through a Google Form survey. Results showed that the use of Drops significantly increased the average vocabulary score by 43 % (from 28.5 to 40.7), which was influenced by the integration of gamification features and spaced repetition mechanism in the application. The majority of respondents (76 %) reported high satisfaction with ease of use, learning motivation, and effectiveness of visual illustrations, consistent with previous research on audiovisual and gamification-based mobile apps. However, about 24 % of respondents recorded medium to low scores on motivational aspects and interface appearance, indicating the need for UX/UI enhancements to expand adoption. Demographic statistics revealed the average age of respondents to be 18.38 years (Q1=17; median=18; Q3=20), confirming that teenagers and pre-adults are the main group of Drops users. The findings provide recommendations for both language education practitioners and app developers to optimize design and features to maximize vocabulary learning effectiveness.
