If you are a fan of Tokyo Marui airsoft guns, then you probably would want to get a copy of “The Complete Book of Tokyo Marui”. Released last month with World Photo Press being the publisher, this book shows the 270 airsoft guns from Tokyo Marui and more with over 140 pages of full colour photographs and illustrations.  You may call it a product catalogue for 2017 by the most well known and respected airsoft company, but it actually goes beyond being a product catalogue.

The book is well designed, and even if you do not understand Japanese, there are some English words that give you the idea of what section you are in. Opening the book, you will be first greeted by the upcoming the HK416 Delta Custom New Generation AEG as well as the SGR-12 AES that uses the same shotgun gearbox as the AA-12 AES. The HK416 Delta Custom is set to be released on the 9th of March 2017 and for those who are into collecting HK416 airsoft guns, this should be on top of their list of airsoft guns to buy for this year.

Also in this section are brief mentions of the following upcoming gas blowback pistols: Glock 19, USP, V10 Ultra Compact, and the Colt M45A1 CQB Pistol.

The next section is about the New Generation AEGs (NEGs), which was first introduced in the 2007 with the announcement of the AK74MN. The NEG’s distinct features are the electric blowback and simulated recoil although the AK74MN has already been discontinued. The NEGs are the mainstay products of the company and are seen in AKs, ARs, HK416s, HK417, FN SCAR Series, and G36s. We just wonder when they will be able to release NEGs in the SMG category.

For those curious how many types of gearboxes that the company have introduced over the years, there are a total of 8 gearboxes for the AEGs (versions 1 to 8); a total of 4 gearboxes for the NEGs (versions 1 to 4); 5 gearboxes for the High Cycle Custom Series (they are targeting 8 gearboxes); 1 gearbox for the AES; 1 gearbox for the AEP; and 1 gearbox for MAEGs or SMG AEGs. The gearboxes for the AEGs, AEPs and SMG AEGs have been mainly copied by other airsoft manufacturers.

The AEG section is the most extensive in the catalogue as Tokyo Marui has the most diversified list of airsoft guns of all and no other airsoft manufacturer has ever come close to what they have accomplished. No other airsoft manufacturer has a line-up of products of AEGs from versions 1 to 8 gearboxes and they are mainly stuck with producing airsoft guns that use the Version 2, Version 3, Version 6, and Version 7 gearboxes. Most, if not all, airsoft guns produced by other manufacturers are said to be “Marui compatible.”

Tokyo Marui also manufacturers exclusively the Biohazard series of airsoft gas blowback pistols. In cooperation with CAPCOM, they have been releasing limited edition versions of the Biohazard pistols, famous of which at the Samurai Edge pistols, since 1998.

After the electric gun sections comes the Gas Guns section which are also the most successful series of airsoft guns having produced best sellers such as the Hi-Capa, Colt 1911, M92/M9, and Glock series. There is not much to be said about these gas blowback guns, but they are very much copied by other airsoft manufacturers as well. They also have fixed slide pistols such as the MK23 SOCOM and the Centimeter Master.

Only in the 21st century did Tokyo Marui introduce SMG and AR gas blowback rifles, such as the MP7A1, the M4A1 MWS, and the M4A1 CQB-R Block 1. Whilst not much discussed by airsoft players, the company also has a good line of airsoft revolvers, mainly comprised of Smith & Wesson M66s, and the Colt Python Series.

The latest in their gas gun series are the shotguns which started with the M870 series, then followed by the KSG.

All the gun sections have their mechanisms explained, and how I wished they released an English version other non-Japanese readers can have a chance to follow what was written in the book.

Other guns that the company manufactures are the bolt action airsoft sniper rifles, bannered by the best selling airsoft sniper series, the VSR-10, as well as other air cocking AR rifles, shotguns and pistols.

Most serious airsoft players will focus on the 1:1 scale airsoft guns but they can also check on the smaller scale airsoft guns produced by the company like the BOYS series.

It’s not about airsoft guns only as  Japanese celebrities who play airsoft were featured as well: Kataoka Kotaro (Kabuki actor), Yoshihiro Takayama (pro wrestler), and Koji Akimoto (mechanical designer/cartoonist). They talked about their careers and their preferred Tokyo Marui airsoft guns. Apart from the celebrities, there were interviews with employees of Tokyo Marui and they talk about their airsoft gun collection.

They also have a parts and accessories compatibility chart for you to check on the which part or accessory can be used for Tokyo Marui airsoft gun.

Other feature stories is about the use of Tokyo Marui airsoft guns for training in the Japanese Self Defense Forces and Japanese Law Enforcement as well as the guns used in the John Wick movie, which the company emulated in their promotion of the KSG gas shotgun.

To top it off, they also included a manga safety booklet called “Airsoft Guns and & Girls Enjoy It Safely”. This was illustrated by Sakasaki Furetei.

If you want to collect “The Complete Book of Tokyo Marui” you can only order this in Japan via the Mono Shop though you can ask the retailer if they will be able to ship a copy overseas.