May is always a hectic month for Tokyo Marui as it is the month in which the Shizuoka Hobby Show is held. Planned to be held from the 13th to the 16th of May, the organisers decided to cancel the event last 28 February and focus on preparing for 2021. Tokyo Marui always makes a big reveal at the trade event as it is the first big trade event that the company participates in for the year.

We have been somewhat aware that since there is no Shizuoka Hobby Show this year, the Japanese airsoft company is planning an online event to fill the dates left by the cancelled Hobby Show which they mentioned to us in early March. This was just a passing heads-up as they usually hold information tightly so we are not aware of the rest of their plans until they announce their teasers on product reveals which they did last Friday, the 1st of May.

In the teaser posted at the company website, we see three products with a promise of more revelations. As always, we try to gaze into the mirror ball (as well as look into 2019 Tokyo Marui news we posted) to guess what these products are.

TOKYO MARUI GLOCK 17 GEN 4 GAS BLOWBACK PISTOL

The photo shows the Glock diagonal lines in the rear of the pistol which you can compare to the photo we have of the Tokyo Marui Glock 17 Gen 4 GBB Pistol on display at the 6th Tokyo Marui Festival that was held in February 2019. Some information that we have about the product is that it has a modular backstrap with four backstraps to choose from.  The magazine catch is enlarged and reversible making it ready for left and right handed shooters. This can readily fit the Glock holsters for the real world Glock 17 and uses the 15mm cylinder used by the Marui Glock 19 GBB Pistol.

TOKYO MARUI FNX-45 TACTICAL BLACK

FNX-45 Tactical Black (Official FN Herstal Photo)

The Tokyo Marui FNX-45 Tactical GBB Pistol is not exactly a new product since the FDE version is already available in the airsoft market. There is always a demand for a black version and just like Marui M45A1 Black GBB Pistol that was released last month, a black version of the FNX-45 Tactical is just a logical decision to make.

A TOKYO MARUI RUGER LCP COMPACT?

Ruger LCP (Official Ruger Photo)

The third photo left us a bit baffled but Hyperdouraku speculates it to be a Ruger LCP Compact.  The question is, will this be a Gas Blowback or an air-cocking airsoft pistol? Yas says it is highly probable that is a gas blowback pistol so for those who are looking for a CCW GBB pistol, then this might be a good choice if proven correct.

AND MANY MORE…

We expect a working prototype of the first Kalashnikov-style gas blowback rifle from Tokyo Marui, the AKM GBB Rifle. A mockup was on display at the 6th Tokyo Marui Festival and some its parts were 3D printed which usually part of the rapid prototyping process nowadays. But we can mention some details such as the metal parts which are the receiver, bolt carrier, trigger, front sight base, gas block, and magazine catch are made of die-cast zinc whilst the top cover is steel press. The outer barrel and muzzle cap are expected to be made of aluminium.

The company usually pulls a big surprise for the airsoft community in May though in recent years, they have been putting out their own in-house designs for the Gas Blowback Rifle and NGRS Series. We won’t be surprised if another in-house GBBR or NGRS model will be unveiled on the 15th of May, but if you are to ask us, we pray that they go retro and release a GBBR or NGRS model based on an old weapon design such as the Colt M733, Colt M933, SIG552, M16A1 VN  or the MP5 Series. But that’s just us wishing for these models.

The 15 May event is just Part 1 and with Part 2 having no details on when it is going to be held. Probably Part 2 will be planned if the organisers of the All Japan Model & Hobby Show, which will take place in October, decide to cancel the event as well given that uncertainties of planning big events for 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Tokyo Marui 15 May event will take place around 2000H (GMT+9). We do not know if this is going to be livestream or already a pre-taped even that will be posted on the Tokyo Marui Official YouTube channel.

We’ll post details of the event the following day.