It has been two weeks since the 55th Shizuoka Hobby Show has passed. Just like last year, Tokyo Marui have pulled off a surprise, unveiling the KSG Gas-Powered Airsoft Shotgun and it looks like these past few year, the company is devoting much effort into improving airsoft shotgun technology. So far, the airsoft shotgun products they have revealed have been really good sellers such as the M870 Gas Shotgun Series and last year’s surprise, the AA-12 AES.

The KSG Gas Shotgun is expected to be a good seller, as it is a shotgun that many airsoft players have been wanting to own for years now and it looks like Tokyo Marui have listened. Many were looking forward to the MadBull Airsoft’s version of the shotgun ever since it was announced in 2012. Four years have passed, and KSG will be actually released, though it is Tokyo Marui fulfilling the wishes of airsoft players.

The promo of Tokyo Marui for the KSG is based on the movie of John Wick, where Keanu Reeves used the shotgun to take down the bad guys. In their video promo they released prior to the show, they had Mr. Deka Shimamura (the spokesperson of Tokyo Marui) in a John Wick impression, long hair and all, that people were guessing a KSG or the H&K P30L will be announced. He appeared at the show in the same get-up and another video of him in action with the KSG was also released.

According to the company, the KSG is not a perfect reproduction of the real KSG, since they were not able to faithfully reproduce the function of the tubular magazine as there is not enough space for the mechanism.  Even though they can install the loading function through tubular magazine, it is very difficult to fire a 3-round shot properly with this function. If they chose single shot instead of 3 and 6 round shots, then they can reproduce the loading function properly through tubular magazine. But then it won’t be a proper airsoft shotgun if they did that.

With a projected summer release, airsoft players wanting own this should start saving up. Just hope that there will be no unforeseen delays just like what happened to the Tokyo Marui M4A1 MWS GBB.

Another significant development is the announcement of the M40A5 Sniper Rifle which many got excited about too. What makes this significant is that it is the first bolt-action sniper that the company announced that is not part of the highly successful VSR-10 series, which many consider to be the best selling airsoft sniper rifle ever. The expectations are high for this rifle since the VSR-10 has set the standard and hopefully the M40A5 will be breaking new grounds. What we surely will expect is that airsoft players will be planning on doing some upgrades when it gets released, just like what they did to their VSR-10s.

It has been mistaken to be one of the favourite rifles of the American Sniper, the late Chris Kyle, but the rifle he actually used for his longest distance kill was the MacMillan TAC-338 which of course almost looks like the M40A5 and is made by MacMillan too. The TAC-338 is the rifle used in the cover for the American Sniper book. But for those who want to have MARSOC sniper loadout, then this rifle is it.

When the Marui M4A1 MWS GBB was released, many were expecting a short-barreled version will follow. They were right as the company announced the CQB-R version and I suspect more M4A1 MWS variants will be released in the future.  The MWS was on display where visitors were able to try the gas blowback rifle without any BB (dry fire). For four days straight and at temperatures of 25-27℃ inside the venue, the MWS was dry-fired by many people and did not break down. Even if there were several MWS units readied for display, one was actually used for use by visitors.

The HK45 Tactical GBB Pistol was very much well-received by the visitors and this the first time that they are releasing a GBB Pistol with a silencer. The pricing has not been determined yet and they plan to release the pistol in the Fall season.

Also seen on display during the show were the 1/12 scale plastic gun models called “Little Armory.” Made by Tommy Tech they will be releasing soon the AA-12 and M870CS.  They have cooperated with them on Twitter a few years back and now they have been cooperating for their Events Posing where the small scale models posing with the 1/12 scale plastic gun models such as those seen in favourite shows and movies. Tokyo Marui sends them the airsoft guns for Tommy Tech to follow the design and turn them into the 1/12 scale models.

After the AA-12 and M870CS are released, the Type 86 rifle will be next and one of the photos show a Booth Bunny at Tommy Tech with the Tokyo Marui Type 86.

For those waiting for the 3,000-round Drum Magazine for the Tokyo Marui AA-12 AES, it will be ready soon. Owners of the AA-12 AES wanting to own the drum magazine took time to closely look at it as it was on display.

More photos of the Tokyo Marui booth area at the 55th Shizuoka Hobby Show at the Popular Airsoft Facebook Page.