lifestyle

Tokyo Marui comes to play with replica sniper rifles, pistols and grenade launchers

31 Comments
By Philip Kendall

Despite being a country where firearms are incredibly rare and licenses to own them notoriously difficult to obtain, there nevertheless remain thousands of gun nuts in Japan. Thankfully, the majority of firearm fans here are content to spend hours poring over photos and technical diagrams of weapons, occasionally visiting shooting ranges or watching videos of pretty girls squeezing off a few rounds while dressed as French maids.

For those who prefer to have something to play with at home, there are airsoft guns from makers such as Tokyo Marui, which feature a shockingly high level of detail and come with all manner of bells and whistles in an attempt to recreate the experience of firing the real thing without the risk of death, serious injury or being arrested. But as aesthetically pleasing as these firing replicas are, one key element was always missing: sound.

Enter: Bakuon Gun-Sound replicas.

Literally meaning “exploding sound”, Tokyo Marui’s Bakuon Gun-Sound firing replicas were unveiled at last week’s Shizuoka Hobby Show where guns fans and toy lovers alike went–if you’ll excuse the pun–completely ballistic.

The ultra-realistic plastic models work with transceivers that pump realistic gunshot sounds into a set of connected headphones with each pull of the trigger, meaning that not only can young men set up firing ranges at home well out of harm’s way, but they can do it without their family telling them to keep the noise down.

The VSR-10 Pro Hunter G sniper rifle comes equipped with a “silencer”, and joins plastic replicas such as shotguns, pistols, submachine guns and even grenade launchers. Plug in a set of headphones, though, and this long-range rifle will produce any one of four realistic rifle sounds. At long last, we have the correct audio accompaniment to properly daydream about popping off zombie heads or being Jean Reno on the rooftop in the movie "Leon."

The video below from Japanese gun enthusiasts Hyper Douraku shows the gun in detail as well as a few seconds of it in action.

Although it’s difficult to tell how good the quality of these sounds effects are since the user is wearing headphones, the camera’s microphone manages to pick up the sound of the blast from a couple of feet away, suggesting that it packs a mean punch. Besides, whether it’s 100 percent accurate or not, this gun certainly sounds much better than the pew-pew and da-da-da-da-da noises that my friends and I used to make while running around the playground with our jackets tied around our necks to look like capes.

Thanks to the Bakuon system, gun fans will no longer have to suffer that anticlimactic sting of shame as their tiny ball bearings ping out of their rifle barrels and across the room; with the device attached, every trigger-pull sends ear-splitting ripples of audio manliness through your headphones, assuring you that you just did something suitably epic.

Tokyo Marui took the opportunity to showcase some of its other, perhaps worryingly realistic, replicas at the show. Not all of them feature the additional sound capabilities of the VSR-10 sniper rifle, but we’re betting that it’s only a matter of time before we’re cackling like madmen in our back yards, firing our entire collection of plastic guns at home-made targets while wearing a set of oversized headphones.

Source: Game Watch

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Full Metal Rubber Band Guns -- When AKB48 and Resident Evil Meet AK-47 Assault Rifles -- Stop Irritating Chatter with Gun that Jams Speech

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31 Comments
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Call me outspoken, but replicas need to be banned ... society need not be encouraged.

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

@jojo

So you are in favor of limiting peoples rights?

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

It's only a matter of time before someone carrying one of these is shot by police who believe it to be real. But, if they are within their rights to carry one then I suppose it's OK.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

watching videos of pretty girls squeezing off a few rounds while dressed as French maids.

Sweet!

You need all sorts of paperwork to buy one of their airguns. But they are realistic. And it stings when you are shot by one.

Bass - yes, think some limit on rights is appropriate.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@bass4funk: This isn't America, yes they should be banned.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

It's only a matter of time before someone carrying one of these is shot by police who believe it to be real.

If they are dumb enough to do that, being shot is a good thing for society.

You need all sorts of paperwork to buy one of their airguns. But they are realistic. And it stings when you are shot by one.

My friend has a lot of them, and he's never had to deal with any paperwork.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

No paper work needed, got a Glock 17 and SIG Hauser. A friend owns about 7 rifles and MG's.

Very nice and in Japan we don't need the coloured nozzle cover, but those replica are not cheap especially if you go for the upgrades, etc.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@gogo

I see. So let's Take the rights of people and collectors that might want to purchase these guns because its their hobby or because they have an imterest in guns, since Japan doesn't allow guns, buying a replica is a bad thing, so I guess, playing war games, paintball guns, toy soldiers should all be banned as well too, I assume? Has nothing to do with America and everything to do with taking the rights away from people to make their decisions in life.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

People who yell "ban those replicas" don't have the slightest spark of knowledge about Japanese mentality.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I dig BB guns but this is just ghey

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Make fake guns look fake not real. Otherwise law enforcement will shoot u with a real one.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Guaranteed someone will try to use one of these to rob a konbini. Just waiting for the headline.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

...or watching videos of pretty girls squeezing off a few rounds while dressed as French maids.

I'd watch that... but back to the topic...

Call me outspoken, but replicas need to be banned ... society need not be encouraged.

In the UK they are banned:

Section 36 of the Violent Crimes Reduction Act 2006

Manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms Section 36.1

A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a)he manufactures a realistic imitation firearm;

(b)he modifies an imitation firearm so that it becomes a realistic imitation firearm;

(c)he sells a realistic imitation firearm; or

(d)he brings a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain or causes one to be brought into Great Britain.

Section 36.9

An offence under this section shall be punishable, on summary conviction—

(a)in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or with both; and

(b)in Scotland, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or with both.

The definition of a realistic imitation fire-arm is detailed under section 38, here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/38/section/38

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@bass4funk: American's are caught up in "taking away your freedom", "taking away your rights"... forget all that, this isn't America and we don't need the gun problems of America in Japan including guns replica grenade launchers that look like the real thing.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yeah, with the rightists like Abe and Hashimoto getting power, soon they will make guns legal. Then each year 11,000 people will be killed by guns, like the US, instead of 4 or 5. Hope that when people realize how dangerous these people are, they will be kicked out.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Need to build a recoil mechanism into these to make it more realistic and some type of shot (can be a laser etc). -Then it would be good for practice and with ammo expensive or hard to get these will sell.

Kind of reminds me of blow-back BB/pellet guns. -The CO2 power gas is used to blow-back the receiver to make it more realistic and fun.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

America can take a page out of Japan's book on this one. It satisfies their obsessive urge to own weapons.. yet they can't shoot and kill something with them. The NRA should be satisfied that people can still own assault rifles and the rest of the normal people can be satisfied that they won't be killed by a replica.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@bass funk No one has the natural "right" to own these things though they are legal, just as no-one has the "right" to own the real thing. No one has the natural "right" to own a bag of "fake weed" though its legal, just as no-one has the "right" to own a bag of heroin. No one has the "natural right" to drive a car, just as no 12 year old has the "right" to drive a car. In democratic societies, rights are there to be granted and to be taken away, by the process of law. So, though I don't wish to speak for jojo, I guess its pretty obvious that he (or she?) is for infringing peoples "rights" in this case. So what? Are you saying you saying you believe that children have the right to be sold cigarettes and alcohol, or that dirty old men should have the right to buy child pornography? What you say is nonsensical. Are you an anarchist? Somebody has to decide what "rights" we have, Democracy, where it works is quite a good a useful tool for this purpose. It's also worth remembering that 99% of the world outside of the US is quite happy not to have the "right" to bear arms. And where did that "right" come from anyway. A few dudes sitting round a table, amending a constitution has no bearing on what happens in Japan, or anywhere else for that matter. That may be news to a lot of Americans.. Amending the law is the issue here, so if you don't agree, go ahead and let your voice be heard but, please, give it a rest on peoples "rights."

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Really no paperworks is required. Although when my son bought a replica Ak47, he was asked to show an ID just to verify his age. And they never come cheap. with the right connection, in some provinces in my home country, you can buy the real thing with nearly the same price.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't understand why they don't just make their own sounds when firing the guns? bang-bang-bang, gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu (for machine guns), thud thud thud for AA guns. Imagine all the fun 30-some year olds could have running around the forests of Aokigahara, while dodging all the corpses hanging from trees.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu (for machine guns),

IIRC the officially correct sound for a machine gun is "Rada-tat-tat-tat", unless you are mimicing a German MG-42; then it would be "Budda-dudda-dudda".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow there are some really "smart" people on this, and I say that will all the sarcasm I can muster on a key board. I and a whole group of westerners and Japanese did milsim in Japan monthly living in Chiba. It is good, clean, healthy fun that is expensive and very safe. The mentality of the adults who played was great who knew even these were dangerous to a point and treated them just as real weapons. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the TM replicas or he real thing when used and treated with respect. I miss milsim something fierce here in Montana but now I have the real versions of the replicas I own so the best of both worlds. Harshing on something you know nothing about is a waste of air.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

First, thank GOD, Japan has no NRA! Secondly, thank GOD, these stupid guns are just TOYS, but sadly enough, some jerks will use them to rob convinience stores banks, taxis etc..end probably end up getting killed by COPS with REAL guns!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The NRA should be satisfied that people can still own assault rifles

Depends on the state your in, California for example banned the possession of Fully automatics if I'm not mistaken. Plus they are very expensive, at least $10,000 for vast majority of models. Remember an Assault Rifle is a rifle that has machine gun capabilities. A Semi-automatic only rifle is not an assault rifle.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Then each year 11,000 people will be killed by guns, like the US, instead of 4 or 5. Hope that when people realize how dangerous these people are, they will be kicked out.

You really honestly believe that the primary reason for difference in homicide rates is due to guns? In other words if gun laws were the same in Japan as the US that the homicide rate would be on par with the US?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Stay on topic please.

This is not a rhetorical question. When was the last time model guns played a role in crime in Japan?

The nice thing about model guns is that even if they are used in a crime that cannot kill anyone.

I second E.M. I am so glad there is no NRA in Japan and no Second Amendment to terrorize us. Yes, only cops and criminals have guns. But the criminals pretty much stick to shooting each other.

I am glad the gun nuts in this country have realistic models to play with. And those models are so realistic.

I love antique firearms. I've been tempted to get a replica Pepperbox. But I fear my collecting proclivities will get the better of me.

To conclude, toy guns are okay. Real guys are not okay. If you can hit the bulls eye with a plastic bb you are in every way a man for that.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The domestic market and availability wrt toy guns in Japan goes very far back. So regardless of how anyone feels about what they represent, the industry isn't going away, and like any industry, it'll continue to innovate and progress, because, you know, it's a reasonably successful business.

When I was a kid in Tokyo in the 60's every ekimai toy shop, every mamsan/papasan candy shop had arsenals of toy guns, tin or plastic, for a handful of ten yen coins, and most of them shot pellets of some kind, or another. Then in the 70's came "model" guns made out of alloy metal and mechanically functional except for actually shooting - which they couldn't. You could put loud caps into the fake cartridges and cycle rounds.

These model guns were pretty much everywhere, but being relatively expensive my friends and I had to save up our earned money or allowances to get them, so they were rarer in the hands of kiddies. For a time they were visually identical to the real thing, then manufacturers started distinguishing them with unusual colors, or other recognizable "toy" features. A few were used in crimes. The current day serious gun otakus focus on these, and they're back to being mostly realistically represented. I think this is because the police aren't really that worried about them anymore.

Airsoft was just starting when my family left Japan. I recall it as being an offshoot from the guns used at amusement parks and shateki yatai. I had a couple of the early mass produced models; they were pretty weak and clearly looked like toys, but pretty cool toys. And yes, we used to shoot each other with all these toy guns.

The only sound producing toy gun I had as a tyke was a Mattel full size Winchester Lever Action cowboy rifle. It actually had a plastic record inside the butt stock that played when you worked the lever and pulled the trigger. It would play back a loud shot and a ricochet sound. It was the envy of the neighborhood and most of the time I ended loaning it to my Japanese pals.

Anyway, I seriously doubt wanna be criminals could use these effectively as props for robbing or scaring anyone, because most Japanese know about this stuff, and do not expect there to be real guns around, so anything they see is assumed to be a toy. If that weren't the case, the police would be more adamant about it, and they aren't.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That's pretty cool, I wish they could open up a few firing ranges in Japan, keeping firearm ownership banned of course.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

my x-box makes better gun sounds, they should be making a gun that works for game consoles. Duck hunter on the Famicon was cool.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

These are fun, but the GBBs are better, I think. The haters on here need to chill. And US/UK laws are irrelevant.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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