Airsoft is a modern combat sport or recreational hobby in which
participants eliminate opponents by hitting each other with spherical
non-metallic pellets launched from a compressed-air gun (or airsoft
gun) powered by gas, manual spring-load, or an electrically powered
gearbox.
Airsoft participants organize meetings, either indoors or outdoors, at
dedicated airsoft battlefields to play a variety of games ranging from
short-term skirmishes, organized scenarios, military simulations, or
historical reenactments.
Combat situations on the battlefield often involve the use of common
military tactics to achieve the objectives set in each game.
Participants typically use varying types of weaponry designed as
replicas of real firearms, tactical gear, and accessories used by
modern military and police organizations.Airsoft has its roots in
late-1950s Japan, where firearms were difficult or impossible to obtain
due to local laws; gun enthusiasts were seeking a legal alternative to
use while enjoying their passion. Airsoft is still today most popular
in several Asian regions, such as Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
Macau, South Korea, and to a certain extent, the Philippines and
Indonesia. The vast majority of airsoft guns, accessories, and after
market upgrade parts are also manufactured in these countries.
There is also a growing interest in North America and Europe,
especially in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland,
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Poland, Slovakia,
Lithuania, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Belgium (which is
also visited by Dutch players, as the game is illegal in the
Netherlands), and Denmark.
The first airsoft gun was by Mattel as a children's toy named Shootin' Shells.