Whispering Vinyl and the Idol Machine
The story of Morning Musume cannot be told without first unspooling the grand tapes of the Japanese idol factory. Born in the late 1990s under the meticulous eye of Hello! Project’s architect, Tsunku, Morning Musume emerged as a living embodiment of the “graduation” system: a revolving door of talent that ensured perpetual freshness. In those early days, production strove to craft personalities as much as pop stars—shedding members at peak popularity and recruiting novices from nationwide auditions whispered about on TV commercials. This churn was not chaotic but carefully choreographed: each member’s tenure became a narrative arc, fans investing in