To many people, Morning Musume is a group of girls with questionable singing talent and a love for strutting around in bizarre costumes for the cameras. Oh, and loved by creepy 40-year-old businessmen who destroy pictures of their favorite members if they’re, heaven forbid, spotted talking to a boy.

But to a young girl in 2001 (me) new to the Jpop scene, they were simply harmlessly cute. And I am a notorious sucker for cute.

So, as a tribute I’m going to focus on some of my favorite members that were around during what is considered the “Golden Era” (1999-2002) of this group’s life. Hopefully I shan’t live to regret it. Stay tuned!