Omiya Madonna Racing – Who are they and where are they now?

Japan has had a long history with marketing people for entertainment based on their image or personality in what is known as an “idol”. The idol industry first starting in the 1960s, but it became more prominent in the 70s with the help of television. It wasnt until the 1980s where they started to see their peak. These idols are usually supported and marketed by companies, but some are just organically formed and idolized like the women of Omiya Madonna Racing (written as 大宮真呑奈Racing or 大宮マドンナレーシング).

大宮マドンナレーシング

While browsing on the internet for more details on the group, I stumbled upon Atsuko-chan’s personal blog reminiscing on the days of her youth.

Women in red uniforms pose with three white and pink customized Honda City Turbo II cars showing ACG logo, outdoor setting.
Smiling woman with red hair wearing a red outfit. The text in Japanese reads あつこチャン (Atsuko-chan).
Atsuko-chan

Team leader Atsuko Koike faced a lot of challenges in junior high school. Her father passed away to cancer at the young age of 46. She started to struggle in school before the passing of her father. Atsuko-chan dropped out of junior high to work at a Fujiya restaurant as it paid more than going to school did. It wasn’t until the next year she was wondering what to do about her lack of education, when her mother told her about a vocational school that opened up nearby. This is where Atsuko met Ume at the age of 17. They became best friends and spent every day together.

Three women driving pink and white decorated retro cars.
Champ Road 9/2006
Person in a red outfit standing next to a white car with Japanese signage in the background.
Ume-chan

Ume was the first to get her license at the age of 18, where she drove around a bright red AE86 Levin. Atsuko received her license at the age of 19. Her boyfriend at the time suggested to buy a Mira Cuore, which she thought was ugly and slow. She lent this car to her ex boyfriend who ended up getting in an accident with it. Atsuko had her truck driver friend repair the car. She then had it painted pearl white, influenced by her Honda Courreges Tact.

Around that time she saw a Young Auto magazine at Ume’s house. She became fascinated by the girls in the tokkō-fuku riding around in their Honda City. This is where Atsuko told Ume that they should make girly matching cars, with the courreges theme.

When Atsuko turned 21 years old, she upgraded to the newest Dahatsu Mira WX Turbo. 

Woman in red attire standing by a car, outdoors, with the text Keiko-chan in Japanese at the bottom of the image.
Keiko-chan

While cruising around Omiya in August of 1987, they stopped at a Mister Donut. A yankii woman driving a white Leopard pulled up and asked if the Mira was fast. This was Keiko-chan, 18 at the time, and the now third member of Madonna Racing. She immediately went and bought a new Mira and drove it straight to the shop to get two and a half coils cut out. Prior to all of their cars being painted, people started asking what the teams name was and who was the leader. Someone from Omiya Nanasato Racing was quoted saying there are girls saying there is a person like Madonna in Omiya. Atsuko then decided to name the group Omiya Madonna Racing, but with kanji originally (真呑奈). This is when Omiya Madonna Racing formed.

Four women wearing matching outfits and pink masks squat in front of cars at night in Japan.
Vintage scene with three modified cars in Japan, adorned with numbers and decals, dated October 18, 1987.
Shortly after Omiya Madonna Racing formed, October 18, 1987.

Madonna started prepping their cars for the next Grachan meeting in September, but something happened to Ume’s car. While the two of them were in her car, Ume fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into another car. Atsuko later woke up in the x-ray room at the hospital. The car was then scrapped. Ume immediately ordered a replacement Mira and the three of them began to remodel the car like before. Once this was done, Atsuko sent a photo of their cars to Champ Road magazine. Champ Road then came out for an interview with Omiya Madonna Racing at Yono Park.

Three women in red outfits lean against white cars with pink accents in Japan. Japanese text translates to no passengers.
From their Champ Road interview in April 1988

They went for a matching look for their team. Their cars were painted in the Courreges color theme, and they would wear matching outfits along with dyeing their hair the same color. Eventually the group was retired after the 1988 Fuji Grand Champion meeting.

source: @manabu.5249
Keiko-chan and Atsuko-chan. source: @manabu.5249

Team Members

Three women in uniforms holding flowers in front of decorated cars in a Japanese car show. レディース on car windshield.Explanation: The alt text describes the main elements in the image including the women, their uniforms, the flowers they are holding, and the Japanese car show setting to ensure it is relevant and improves SEO.
Ume, Atsuko, Keiko in 1988

Atsuko-chan

  • 1986 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Turbo
  • 1 1/2 coils cut on the springs
  • Bridgestone Genio Project 12 inch wheels
  • Bridgestone 331 Eager 165-60 tires
  • Trust 50 muffler
  • Auto Jewel upper and lower wings, smoked lens cover, fender trim, mirror cover, Toyota MR-2 duct
  • Interior: Steering wheel, shift knob, and seat covers from AC Courrèges
A vintage white and pink customized hatchback kei car parked on a street in Japan during the day.
Front view of a modified white and red car with a yellow plate, parked in a lot next to other white cars.
Customized white and red car with graphics parked on a street in Japan.
Vintage white and pink hatchback car with unique おつき (Otsuki) Japanese text and AC logo parked on the street.
Atsuko-chan’s Mira at the age of 22. Champ Road 1988 interview.
Vintage car interior with white AC steering wheel cover and pink-themed seat covers, Japanese keychain hanging on dashboard.
Retro white and pink compact car parked in front of Japanese house, photographed on February 28, 1998.
Atusko’s Mira in February 28, 1988

Keiko-chan

  • 1987 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Turbo.
  • “Ferrari” ducts
  • AC Courrages colors
  • Auto Jewel upper and lower wings
  • Toyota MR-2 duct
  • Bridgestone Genio Project 12 inch wheels
  • Interior: Steering wheel, shift knob, and seat covers from AC Courrèges
Woman posing with a customized k-car featuring a pink and white two-tone paint job, with Japanese text あきら on window.
A vintage white and red kei car with a yellow license plate, parked on a street in a residential area.
Rear view of a two-tone pink and white compact car with a TRUST sticker on the rear windshield parked outdoors.
Red and white two-door vintage hatchback car parked outdoors, showcasing unique 80s design elements. The word バモス (Vamos) is written on the window.
Keiko-chan’s Mira at the age of 19. Champ Road 1988 interview
A woman poses next to a vintage Japanese car with a TRUST decal on the rear windshield, dated January 1989.
Keiko’s Mira January 19, 1989

Ume-chan

  • 1987 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Turbo EFI
  • Auto Jewel upper and lower wings
  • Custom side vents
  • Bridgestone Genio Project 12 inch wheels
  • Interior: Steering wheel, shift knob, and seat covers from AC Courrèges
Side view of a white and pink Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato kei car; features a sporty design and custom decals.
Vintage white and red hatchback car with custom decals and spoiler, parked outdoors on a sunny day.
Front view of a modified pink and white Daihatsu Mira with Japanese decals in a parking lot, another car in the background.
A pink and white Daihatsu Mira custom car with Japanese text decals parked outdoors on a sunny day.
Two women in white outfits pose in front of a white car with a pink bumper, 1980s Japan. Date: April 2, 1989.
Keiko and Atsuko, April 2, 1989
Three young women in yellow uniforms standing outdoors with blurred person, holding flowers, in front of parked cars and trees.
A woman in a yellow outfit poses by a white and pink car on a scenic road in Japan, conveying a lively and colorful scene.
Group posing in a parking lot, three women in matching pale yellow outfits, one person with a pixelated face. Dated May 15, 1988.
source: @5963matu
Three women in yellow dresses posing with a pink and white car labeled トラコン (Torakon) in a parking lot.
Woman with long hair waving in front of a car, wearing a red jacket and white collar, in an outdoor setting with sunlight.
Four women in red uniforms posing cheerfully in front of a car, with trees and a clear sky in the background.
Three vintage Japanese kei cars with pink and white two-tone paint parked in a row outdoors, 1980s style.
Japanese car magazine page featuring custom-tuned white and pink cars with female models posing. Multiple angles and portraits included.

Their influence is still seen today, where people like Matsu-chan built her Mira matching Omiya Madonna Racing’s style.

Matsu-chan’s (@5963matu) Omiya Madonna Racing inspired Daihatsu Mira

Where are they now?

In 2018, Keiko-chan was featured on a variety show with comedians Matsuko Deluxe and Teruyuki Tsuchida. The special explored yankii culture of the 1980s, from fashion, music, room aesthetics and other notable things of the era.

A smiling woman named Keiko, 49 years old, stands in front of a wooden background with Japanese text on the screen.

Atsuko has a twitter account that she still runs under the name of @omiyamadonna. She recalls the old days of being in the group, and how things were back then. She has also been hanging out with Matsu-Chan.

As for Ume-chan, I haven’t found much information.

2024 Update:

Atsuko-chan did an interview with a popular kaido racer Youtuber where she talked about the past with Omiya Madonna Racing.

Sources:
Champ Road April 1988 (photos and information)
Champ Road September 2006 (photos and information)
Atsuko’s Ameblo blog
5963matu

A person with blonde hair and blue eyes sitting in a vehicle, looking at the camera with a serious expression.

One Comment

  1. NumberThirteen
    on December 6, 2022 at 9:25 am •Reply

    Amazing post, crazy amount of information in this !

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *