Written by Jack Herbert

Loved by schoolgirls and dirty old men

Morning Musume ("Momusu"), a 15-strong group of pre-pubescent girls, are the ultimate triumph of marketing over common sense.

Operating on a revolving door basis since 1997, the line-up frequently changes as "older" members are retired and even fresher faces are brought in.

As you'd expect, their fanbase consists mostly of young girls, but, disturbingly, a considerable number of their fans are middle-aged men with a "lorikon" (Lolita complex).