Masako Katsura was a Japanese professional pool player and the first woman to win a world championship. She is among the few professionals to make an international name in men’s and women’s competitions. In 1952, at 21, she won her first major title, the UK Open. Later that year, she became the first woman to win the Herbert Ratcliffe Memorial Invitation Tournament, defeating Willie Wood in the final. In 1953, at 26 years old, she became a world champion when she beat Don Turner in the final of the World Professional Championship. In 2006, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Masako Katsura Early Life
Masako Katsura was born on October 9, 1928, in the city of Sakurai in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from elementary and high school, she studied French at Waseda University in Tokyo for two years before dropping out to pursue a career in billiards. Katsura began working as a counter girl at the Tokimeki Hall in Ginza, where she met Tetsuya Harada, the owner of a pool hall two blocks from Tokimeki Hall.
In 1951, Harada decided to open a billiard hall in Toyama prefecture with Katsura as his secretary. The following year, he moved the business there and hired Katsura full-time as his office manager and personal assistant. In 1955, Harada married Katsura and moved to Ibaraki prefecture, where they operated another pool hall.
In 1961, Harada sold his businesses and retired. He relocated to Hawaii, where he died four years later at 54. After Harada’s death, Katsura continued operating the Toyama billiard hall alone until it closed in 1973.
In 1974, Katsura moved into show business by hosting a talk show called “Masako’s World,” which aired on Nippon Television for three seasons. She also released an autobiography entitled “My Life As A Lady Billiard Player” that year which became a best seller in Japan. In 1979, she released her first film, titled.
Masako Katsura Became the First Lady of Billiard
Masako Katsura became the first lady of billiard when she was appointed captain of the Japan women’s national team in 1990. Under her leadership, Japan came within one win of qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Games.
In 1993, Katsura assumed full executive control of the JBF, becoming its tenth president. She launched an aggressive marketing campaign to bring the game to a wider audience and increased prize money distribution to fund new talent development programs. In 2006, she stepped down from her post as JBF president but continued to serve on its board of directors.
Katsura is also involved in numerous community service initiatives throughout Japan and has served on several boards, including the Tokyo Opera City Foundation and 21st Century Education Corporation.
Her Achievements
Masako Katsura is, without a doubt, one of the most accomplished billiard players of all time. She has won countless tournaments and championships and has consistently placed in the top spots in international rankings.
Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1954, Masako started playing pool when she was 9. She has amassed dozens of awards and accolades throughout her career, including nine world titles and six European championships. She has also been inducted into the Billiards World Cup Hall of Fame and the Asia-Pacific Professional Billiard Association hall of fame.
Despite her impressive record, what makes Masako truly special is her dedication to helping others achieve their dreams. In addition to her longstanding partnership with Global Pool International (GPI), Masako also mentors several young players, teaching them everything she knows about the game. Through her work with GPI and other charities, she is helping to positively impact the lives of thousands of people around the world.
The aftermath of Her Career
Masako Katsura is best remembered as the first lady of billiards and for her groundbreaking contributions to the sport. Born in 1911, Katsura was one of Japan’s most accomplished players in her era.
After graduating from college, she started working as a teacher. Still, she quickly realized she had a magical touch with the cue ball. In 1938, she became the first woman to win an international championship. The following year, she formed her professional team and dominated the circuit for several years.
Katsura was also a pioneer in training women aspiring to become professional players. She founded the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) in 1965 and served as its inaugural president. Under her leadership, the WPBA became one of the world’s largest female-run sports organizations.
Masako Katsura passed away in 1997 at 88. Still, her legacy lives on through her work with the WPBA and other initiatives devoted to empowering women and girls.
Lessons Learned
Masako Katsura is known as the first lady of billiard – and for a good reason. The Japanese woman has been playing the game since she was young and has become one of the world’s best players.
Katsura’s skills have earned her accolades, including five World Championships, three Asian Games gold medals, and two Women’s Eightballs Championship titles. But it wasn’t easy for the sportswoman to achieve her goals. In an interview with The Japan Times, Katsura explained that she had to overcome resistance from her family and society to achieve her goal: “It was really difficult because my parents didn’t want me to play [billiards] at all until I got married. They thought it would be bad for my health.”
Nonetheless, Katsura persevered and became one of the most successful women in professional billiards. Her story is a testament to the power of hard work and motivation – traits essential for anyone who wants to achieve their dreams.
