A diversification occurred in the 1990s and instead of few idols vying for popularity, a number of idols with specific characteristics divided the market. A new genre of idols called Net Idols became known in the late 1990s, only appearing on websites. In the mid-1990s, idols became much younger than before, and groups of idols like Speed and Morning Musume became prominent. In 1997 there appeared Kyoko Date, the first "cyber idol" or "virtual idol". Kyoko Date has a fabricated history and statistics and her own songs. Meanwhile, gurabia aidoru such as Yoko Matsugane, Rio Natsume and Eiko Koike have largely appeared skimpily clad in "cheesecake" photographs.A diversification occurred in the 1990s and instead of few idols vying for popularity, a number of idols with specific characteristics divided the market. A new genre of idols called Net Idols became known in the late 1990s, only appearing on websites. In the mid-1990s, idols became much younger than before, and groups of idols like Speed and Morning Musume became prominent. In 1997 there appeared Kyoko Date, the first "cyber idol" or "virtual idol". Kyoko Date has a fabricated history and statistics and her own songs. Meanwhile, gurabia aidoru such as Yoko Matsugane, Rio Natsume and Eiko Koike have largely appeared skimpily clad in "cheesecake" photographs.
