Who Invented Airsoft?

Airsoft is an immensely popular sport so popular, in fact, that you may not be lying when you proudly refer to yourself as an Airsofter! An Airsoft gun shooting plastic pellets across an arena or a playing field is a common sight. Everyone knows what it is, but who was the one who invented Airsoft?

History of Airsoft

Airsoft as we know it today was born in Japan, but the concept of any similar sports goes back further into history. Paintball, for example, was invented by Charles Nelson in the 70s. The roots of Airsoft and the first prototypes appeared a few decades after in the late 1980s.

For starters: Tanaka's Wang Rifles

The first Airsoft gun prototypes were the product of the collaboration between the companies WANG, Maruzen, and Tanaka. They all started working on a totally new principle of guns, and the result was a replica of an US made M16A1 rifle. This eventually became known as the Tanaka's M16A1 gun. It wasn't a success at the start, and it wasn't even intended as a toy or for soft flower combat. Its purpose was more of a practical demonstration dummy for law enforcement training. The arsenal of Airsoft guns today looked very different if Tanaka didn't take the initiative.

Pursuit of Military Simulation

The Tanaka's M16A1, now widely known as the M16A1 Wang Gun, was only the beginning of the story. Just a few years later, the team of developers from WANG, Maruzen, and Tanaka released the next line of replica guns, this time made of plastic. Those guns were much more lightweight and resembled actual military rifles much more closely. Tanaka took the project to the commercial level by releasing the Tanaka Works Company all-plastic model gun.

Airsoft Popularity Takes Flight

The breakthrough in the story of Airsoft happened in 1992, when the Japanese Laws were updated in regards to firearms. This created an opportunity for Airsoft guns to start taking off in Japan. Within a year or two, there were Airsoft manufacturers popping up all over Japan, and the sport slowly started transitioning from a training tool for the police to a recreational activity. The influx of available guns and the growing popularity of Airsoft in the mid-90s all pointed to a single direction- not from military reenactments to a recreational affair, but from conventional combat to a game.

Airsoft Sweeps the Globe

Airsoft guns soon made their way outside of Japan, thanks to an influx of Korean manufacturers. Countries like Taiwan and China soon followed suit. The spread of Airsoft became so strong that It didn't take long for the game to cross the ocean and hit the Western Countries. This quickly became an international affair, with regular worldwide championships for Airsoft guns carried out every year.

It's Now Time in Airsoft

The current state of Airsoft is booming. With guns available for every skill level and age, the passion for this game knows no boundaries. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and loaded with thrills you can't experience anywhere else. Airsoft guns have become an international symbol of fun and recreation- no matter the location or ethnicity, everyone knows the joys of Airsoft!

Brief Recap

It's hard to believe that Airsoft is the product of just a few decades of development. It started in Japan, where the laws allowed for a new kind of gun to emerge-Airsoft guns. After a series of experiments and successful trials, the game soon spread to other countries, and soon the word Airsofting became an international symbol. Now, Airsoft is available for everyone, no matter the location.

So, to answer the original question: Who invented Airsoft? It was a culmination of efforts from companies WANG, Maruzen, and Tanaka, who recieved a huge boost from liberalized Japanese laws in the early 90s. These efforts culminated in an international sport, beloved by millions across the world.