Masako Katsura: World’s Popular Billiard Player

What do you know about billiards player masako katsura? How she defeated everybody at Billiards? To know all these exciting facts about Masako Katsura, you should read this article till the end!

A famous Japanese woman, Masako Katsura, was well-known worldwide due to her excellent billiards skills. She earned the nickname “First Lady of Billiards.” In 1952, Masako was the first lady to win the World and Ladies Champions of Billiards one by one. 

How to dominate your opponent? Katsura knew this skill very well. Therefore, she won every match with minimal effort and extraordinary skills. In this article, we will look at some significant life events of Masako Katsura. Moreover, we should know how she became so successful.

An Introduction About Masako Katsura

Whether you’re interested in billiards or want to take your game to the next level, read about the excellent skills of Masako katsura billiards players!

On 7 March 1913, Masako Katsura was born in Tokyo. She was also popular with “Katsy” as her nickname. No doubt the first billiard player woman in sports history to appear on the international stage. She had an incredible power to defeat every opponent who dared enter the tournaments.

Famous Title

First Lady of billiards

Original Name

Masako Katsura

Nick Name

Katsy

Nationality

Japanese

Date of Birth

7 March 1913

Died

20 December 1995

Occupation

Professional carom billiards player

Early Life of Masako Katsura

Billiard masako katsura was a renowned Japanese player who is credited with popularizing the sport of billiards in Japan. 

Katsura had a great passion for billiards at a young age and began playing the game when she was just 12 years old. She quickly developed a passion for the sport and honed her skills through practice and competition.

Won First Billiards Tournament

In 1959, at 15, Masako Katsura won her first significant billiards tournament, the All-Japan Student Billiards Championship. She continued to dominate the competition and won several other titles in the following years.

Billiards Tournament in the US

In 1934, a player of carom billiards masako katsura, was invited to compete in a tournament in the United States. She accepted the invitation and became the first Japanese woman to play in a professional billiards tournament in the US. Masako Katsura performed exceptionally well and impressed the American audience with her skills and grace.

After returning to Japan, Katsura continued to compete and win championships. She also worked as a billiards instructor and trained many young players. Masako was known for her precision and finesse on the table, as well as her sportsmanship and grace.

Masako Katsura’s Billiards Career

Player of pool Masako achieved great success in the sport during the mid-20th century. She started playing billiards at a young age and quickly developed her skills for the game. 

Masako Katsura was 15 when she won Japan’s first national billiards championship. She won the tournament 10 times throughout her career, which spanned over three decades.

In addition to her success in Japan, Katsura gained international recognition as a billiards player. After wards, Katsura traveled to the United States in 1952 to compete in the World Professional Pocket Billiards Championship. she becomes the first woman to participate in the tournament. 

She finished in third place, behind the eventual champion Irving Crane and runner-up Welker Cochran. She returned to the United States in 1953 and finished fourth place in the same tournament.

Inspiration for Womens  

Masako Katsura’s success helped raise billiards’ profile in Japan and inspired more women to take up the sport. She also became a celebrity in Japan and was known for her stylish appearance and elegant playing style. 

Masako Katsura’s Marriage

While she was known for her outstanding skills on the pool table, little information about her personal life is available.

According to some sources, Katsura married an American serviceman Vernon Greenleaf. He was a master sergeant in the United States Army. They first met at a Tokyo service club where she gave billiard exhibitions.

Retired

She retired from professional billiards in 1961 but remained involved in the sport as a coach and mentor to younger players.

In recognition of her contributions to billiards, Katsura was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, becoming the first woman and Asian player to receive the honor. She is remembered as one of the greatest billiards players ever and a trailblazer for women in the sport.

Death of Masako Katsura

After competing in many tournaments and achieving simultaneous success, Masako Katsura returned to Japan in 1990. Here she lives with her sister and spends the rest of her life. Afterward she died in 1955. According to sources, Masako Katsura cause of death is natural.