Tokyo Marui releases the Type 20 gas blowback rifle

Tokyo Marui released its gas blowback replica of the Howa Type 20, the current service rifle of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, on 05/08/2026. The price is 140,000 yen excluding tax, according to the company's product page.

The Type 20 is made by Howa Machinery in Japan. The Ground Self Defense Force first bought it in 2019 to replace the Type 89, which had served since the late 1980s. It is a modern modular design with an aluminium upper receiver, adjustable stock and rails for accessories.

What Tokyo Marui has made

The replica is licensed by Howa and carries the Howa logo and the words "MADE IN JAPAN". Tokyo Marui says it is both made and assembled in Japan.

The upper receiver and handguard are machined from aluminium, while the lower receiver, stock and grip are fibre reinforced nylon. The rifle strips into seven parts for cleaning. Controls are ambidextrous, the cocking handle can be swapped to either side, and the sights can be moved and adjusted.

The stock has five positions and the cheek piece three heights. There is storage in the base of the grip. Inside, Tokyo Marui uses an elliptical piston and its Z system, which protects the bolt catch. The muzzle has a 14mm reverse thread, and there are M-LOK slots on the sides and bottom of the handguard.

The rifle comes with a 35 round aluminium die cast magazine styled on the Type 89 pattern. Tokyo Marui says its Type 89 20 round magazine and the M4 type magazines from the same gas blowback series also fit.

What it means for players

At 140,000 yen before tax, the Type 20 is one of the more expensive rifles in Tokyo Marui's range, and the price will rise once import costs and VAT are added outside Japan. Tokyo Marui does not usually sell directly abroad, so UK players will depend on importers for supply.

Magazine compatibility is the big practical plus. Players who already run Tokyo Marui's M4 gas blowback rifles can use their existing magazines rather than buying a new set.

What happens next

The Type 20 is one of two rifles with its own test range at the Tokyo Marui Festival on 31 October and 1 November 2026, which suggests the company expects strong interest. We will report on availability outside Japan when importers confirm stock. Players should note that Tokyo Marui sets its Japanese replicas to a low power level, so many find them well within UK site limits as they come.