▁with ▁her ▁older ▁sister ▁and ▁her ▁sister ' s ▁husband , ▁Tom io ▁Kob ashi , ▁who ▁owned ▁a ▁bill i ard ▁par lor . ▁By ▁ 1 3 ▁she ▁was ▁sp ending ▁time ▁in ▁her ▁brother - in - law ' s ▁bill i ard ▁room , ▁and ▁by ▁ 1 4 ▁she ▁was ▁working ▁as ▁a ▁bill i ard ▁att endant ▁there . ▁Kob ashi ▁was ▁a ▁fine ▁player ▁and ▁taught ▁K ats ura ▁the ▁fund ament als ▁of ▁various ▁car om ▁bill i ards ▁games . ▁K ats ura ▁also ▁had ▁a ▁bill i ard ▁table ▁at ▁home , ▁bought ▁by ▁her ▁family ▁after ▁she ▁showed ▁inten se ▁interest ▁in ▁the ▁sport . ▁K ats ura ▁pract iced ▁dil ig ently , ▁and ▁began ▁compet ing ▁against ▁Japanese ▁men ▁and ▁be ating ▁them . ▁At ▁just ▁ 1 5 , ▁K ats ura ▁won ▁the ▁women ' s ▁championship ▁straight ▁rail ▁tournament ▁of ▁Japan . ▁" Then ▁I ▁turned ▁professional ▁and ▁began ▁tour ing ▁with ▁a ▁sister ▁all ▁over ▁Japan , ▁China ▁and ▁Form osa ", ▁said ▁K ats ura ▁in ▁a ▁ 1 9 5 9 ▁interview . ▁K ats ura ' s ▁two ▁younger ▁sister s , ▁Nor iko ▁and ▁T ad ako , ▁also ▁won ▁the ▁women ' s ▁straight ▁rail ▁championship ▁in ▁other ▁years . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁K ats ura ▁met ▁Kin rey ▁M ats uy ama , ▁who ▁had ▁won ▁Japan ' s ▁national ▁three - c ush ion