The great billiards player Masako Katsura emerged in the 1950s. When only men played billiards professionally, she broke new ground and became a world champion. She was so good at the game that she became known as the “First Lady of billiards.” Billiards shaped Katsura, but she was much more than a player.
Who was Masako Katsura?
Katsura, born in Tokyo on March 7th, 1913, was raised with great care by her mother, especially after her father’s death. At the age of 14, Masako Katsura picked up the sport of billiards. Katsura was encouraged by her mother to take up billiards.
The constant weakness and exhaustion left Katsura feeling helpless, she said. “So my mother encouraged me to play billiards as a form of exercise and self-defense.”
In the 1920s, Tokyo had a thriving scene of billiard halls. Specifically, Katsura’s sister-in-law owned one. Upon picking up a cue, Katsura could see her natural ability as a pool player. It took Katsura only a short time to begin daily practice and work at the pool hall.
Masako Katsura’s Career
Katsura’s billiards career took off after she met Kinrey Matsunya in 1937. Matsunya, a multiple-time Japanese three-cushion champion and 1934 U.S. national champion coached her to the pinnacle of professional play.
Katsura’s skill at billiards increased significantly due to Matsunya’s instruction. She became the first and only Japanese female professional billiards player in 1947; by that time, she was a household name. After finishing second in the 1948 and 1950 Japanese national three-cushion championships, she retired from the sport.
Masako Katsura’s dedication and success at such a young age moved him deeply. From that point on, he was Masako Katsura’s new mentor. Katsura took a giant leap towards realizing her ambitions with the help of her trainer, who taught her the ropes of the gaming world.
Masako Katsura Marriage
Katsura met master Sergeant Vernon Greenleaf, an American serviceman when she played exhibition matches for the American troops. While stationed in Japan, Greenleaf was blown away by Katsura’s gaming capabilities. After he asked her to teach him how to play the game, the two of them fell in love with one another. Historically, Katsura and Greenleaf’s marriage dates back to 1950.
Katsura followed her new husband to the United States when he was posted there soon after their wedding. The couple eventually made their home in the United States, where they lived with each other until Greenleaf’s untimely death in 1967. Unfortunately, Katsura never remarried, and the couple no longer has children.
Katsura’s Journey from Japan to the US
In 1948, while Katsura was living in Japan, he met Air Force Master Sergeant Vernon Greenleaf, stationed there. After dating for two years, the couple tied the knot in 1951.
Katsura and Greenleaf, newlyweds, relocated to Sacramento Mather Air Force Base after Greenleaf returned home for a posting at the end of 1951. Miss Katsura, the first lady of billiards, was welcomed to the United States by many parties as she arrived with her husband. Six-time three-cushion champion Welker Cochran was particularly excited to meet her.
As more and more soldiers returned to the United States after World War II, Cochran overheard rumors about a woman who consistently bested the male players in billiards tournaments.
Achieving International Success in Billiards
When she first appeared on the billiard scene in the 1950s, she caused quite a stir. Welker Cochran oversaw operations at Katsura. Cochran told the press that a woman playing with the ability to match or surpass the best players in the world was “needed.” That’s the main focus right now. “Now I see the light.” Katsura was all over the news. To the media, her sexuality was more noteworthy than her abilities. The champion has “real Japanese cue-tees” in one publication.
Masako Katsura Billiards was once described as a “little lady, of a wisp of women” by another player. Judging by her expression, she has trouble blowing away a feather, unlike someone who can make pool balls boom or act like a reformed brat.
They said terrible things about her in the East. Her reputation preceded her. As far as I was concerned, this was an entirely unexpected sight. They’re lucky to have such a great young lady. She can beat the best of them, and she will.
When Hoppe faced Katsura in 1952, the match was covered differently by the press than it had been by the media in previous years. Hoppe won the 51st world title. Regardless of Katsura’s miniature stature, she was a very classy lady.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Willie Hoppe gave Miss Masako Katsura a pleasant evening last night. His gift to her was a fine pair of socks. The cue he used was a genuine billiards cue. Still, this was Katsura’s first time playing in a global billiards championship. She was unsuccessful in her attempt to unseat Hoppe.
First Lady of Billiards’
Masako Katsura was the first woman in billiards. In 1958, she was the star of a network TV show and consistently placed in the top spots at international competitions. Katsura, the current world champion, knocked out billiards legend Masako Katsura and forced him to retire in 1961. Visit Masako’s official website for more stories.
Cochran, Katsura’s long-time coach, gave her high marks. Women now have more options thanks to what Masako has done. Because of her, women are interested in the game for the first time. She has the strength of a man in her hands.
It wasn’t until 1976 that she made another appearance, this time at a San Francisco billiards hall, where she again amassed a perfect 100. She put down the cue and then was gone. As the 1970s rolled around, billiards transformed. Returning to Japan, Masako Katsura passed away in 1995.
Masako Katsura appears on television
When Katsura first appeared on TV, it was as a contestant on the CBS game show “What’s My Line?” Katsura was the featured guest on the show in March of 1959.
Katsura appeared in June of that year on “You Asked for It,” an episode of the famous “ABC” show. She appeared here as a special guest. Katsura made her second appearance on the same show in November of 1960.
Conclusion
Masako Katsura lived a vibrant, exciting life which is an example. She has been weak since she was young. Her family’s support made her one of the 1950s’ most powerful women. She died in 1995 at the age of 82 in Japan. A sudden illness or disease did not cause Masako Katsura’s death.
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