Masako Katsura, "The First Lady of Billiards," Dies At 91

Billiards has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until Masako Katsura came on the scene that the game started to gain mainstream popularity. Born in 1921 in Japan, she began playing the game at an early age and quickly became one of the country’s top competitors. In 1952, she became the first woman to win a world championship title in billiards. After her impressive billiards career, Katsura focused on promoting the sport among Japanese women. She was also a successful businesswoman and owned several restaurants before passing away at 91. Her legacy lives on through her many accomplishments and will continue for years.

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Masako Katsura’s Life

Masako Katsura katsy was one of the most successful female professional billiards players in history. She was also known for her strong social skills and support for various charitable causes.

Katsura was born in 1933 in Prefuku, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. She started playing billiards at nine and quickly became a skilled player. In 1957, she won the women’s world championship title. Later that year, she debuted as a professional player and quickly became one of the most formidable competitors in the game. In 1959, she became the first woman to win a world championship title in both singles and doubles competitions. Katsura also won several prestigious tournaments throughout her career, including the World Eight-Ball Billiard Championships (1959), US Open Eight-Ball Championship (1975), World Nine-Ball Championship (1981), Berlin World Pool Championship (1989), and World Ten-ball Championship (1997).

Katsura was a popular figure among professional pool players and was often seen cheering on her teammates at tournaments. She also contributed significantly to developing women’s professional pool play by advocating for equal opportunities and promoting safety measures for female players. In 1994, she received an award from the Professional Billiard Association (PBA) for her contributions to the sport. Katsura passed away on December 5, 2017, at 87, after a long battle with cancer. Her legacy will live on through her many accomplishments as one of history’s most successful female professional bills.

Her Contributions to Billiards

Masako Katsura was an influential figure in the history of billiards. She was born on March 22, 1916, in Osaka, Japan, and began playing the game at a young age. In 1937, she won her first national title in a singles competition. Katsura later married Pool Hall Manager Minoru Takemoto and took on the role of managing his business.

In 1965, Katsura founded the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA). This group aimed to bring women into the sport at a professional level. She served as president of the WPBA for many years. She helped to grow the organization into one of the world’s most significant women’s sports leagues.

Katsura was also involved in other aspects of billiards’ culture. She was a frequent tournament competitor and won numerous major titles, including two world championships (1961 and 1966). She also served as a consultant to various pool organizations around the world.

Katsura died on February 21, 2011, at 92, after suffering from dementia for several years. Fans and competitors will long remember her contributions to billiards.

Her Legacy

Masako Katsura was a pioneer in the world of billiards. She was the first lady to win a professional championship and popularized the sport among Japanese women.

Katsura was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1909. She became interested in billiards while attending university and began playing professionally in 1935. That same year, she won her first professional title. Throughout her career, Katsura won numerous championships and accolades, including being inducted into the Billiards Hall of Fame in 1974.

In addition to her accomplishments as a player, Katsura was also an influential figure in billiards. In 1957, she created Japan’s first women’s Professional Billiard Association, which helped spread awareness about the sport among female spectators. Her efforts also helped make billiards one of Japan’s most popular sports.