As we waited in anticipation of what Tokyo Marui will release during the recently held Tokyo Hobby Show 2013, one of the things that we actually were excited to see released is their version of the IWI Tavor/TAR-21. Why the excitement given that there are already existing TAR-21 AEGs in the market made by Ares Airsoft and Smart Team HK? One reason is that they may have put their next generation blowback and recoil technology on their TAR-21, making it to the first electric airsoft bullpup rifle that will have recoil and blowback. Another reason is they are Tokyo Marui, a company for which nothing is impossible when building new technologies for airsoft guns.

However, it was a big disappointment for a lot of serious airsoft players as the Tavor AEG released is the BOYS version. The BOYS series are scaled down versions of the regular AEGs, and are aimed at audiences below 18 years of age. While we don't question the wisdom of Tokyo Marui in releasing a BOYS Tavor, it could have been a best Christmas gift for many airsoft players if a 1:1 scale Marui Tavor AEG was released, especially with the Next Generation AEG engine that only one or two manufacturers in the airsoft industry are trying to equal.

In any case, Tavor or not, we sense a demand for a new generation of airsoft bullpup rifles which can either be electric or gas blowback. The important thing here is the realism part --- the new generation airsoft bullpup rifles should have recoil and blowback, and the power source can either be gas or electric. But we would also prefer electric especially during the cold season where gas blowbacks will not be fully effective in airsoft games. The only company that seem to be sensing this demand is Hephaestus Custom, which is cooperating with GHK Airsoft to develop their Thunder HTs-4 GBBR, which is their take on the bullpup AK called OC-14 Groza.

So this means another segment in airsoft development is wide open as we move from the old Marui-compatible AEGs to the new generation AEGs where realism is even more pronounced with blowback and recoil features. Whether these be the Tavor, the Steyr Aug, or the L85A2, (or even an AK Next Gen Bullpup), more variety is being demanded by airsoft community which usually have a high expectation with Tokyo Marui due to its being a pioneer in the development of airsoft technologies.

But if you look hard, Tokyo Marui are working hard on developing their Next Generation AEG for various gun types. They already have the AR Series, AK Series, SCAR Series, G36 Series, and HKXXX Series; and no other airsoft manufacturer has equaled that line-up yet and even the closest competitors are years behind.

Since the company has already covered a good portion of contemporary rifles for their next generation AEGs, the only logical step for them is to move to bullpup AEGs. They can even release a next gen AEG  with the FAMAS F1, which is the same rifle which catapulted airsoft into the AEG age, courtesy of Tokyo Marui, and brought airsoft to even new heights.

So what do you think? Should Tokyo Marui go and put their Next Generation AEG technology on bullpup rifles? We highly suggest that you discuss this on your community forums and Facebook Pages, or even echo this in your own airsoft blogs. Who knows? It might spur the company to develop the next generation bullpup rifles. We don't care what bullpup rifle it will be, as long as it has the electric blowback and recoil features.

And also, I hope they are also thinking of developing their own line of gas blowback rifles.