domin ated ▁world ▁of ▁professional ▁bill i ards . ▁First ▁learning ▁the ▁game ▁from ▁her ▁brother - in - law ▁and ▁then ▁under ▁the ▁tut el age ▁of ▁Japanese ▁champion ▁Kin rey ▁M ats uy ama , ▁K ats ura ▁became ▁Japan ' s ▁only ▁female ▁professional ▁player . ▁In ▁competition ▁in ▁Japan , ▁she ▁took ▁second ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁country ' s ▁national ▁three - c ush ion ▁bill i ards ▁championship ▁three ▁times . ▁In ▁exhibition ▁she ▁was ▁noted ▁for ▁▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁points ▁at ▁the ▁game ▁of ▁straight ▁rail . ▁ ▁After ▁marry ing ▁a ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁non - comm ission ed ▁officer ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁K ats ura ▁em igr ated ▁with ▁him ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 1 . ▁There ▁she ▁was ▁invited ▁to ▁play ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 2 ▁U . S .- sp ons ored ▁World ▁Three - C ush ion ▁Championship , ▁ultimately ▁taking ▁sevent h ▁place ▁at ▁that ▁competition . ▁K ats ura ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁ever ▁to ▁be ▁included ▁in ▁any ▁world ▁bill i ards ▁tournament . ▁Her ▁fame ▁c ement ed , ▁K ats ura ▁went ▁on ▁an ▁exhibition ▁tour ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁with ▁eight - time ▁world ▁champion ▁Wel ker ▁C och ran , ▁and ▁later ▁with ▁ 5 1 - time ▁world ▁champion ▁Will ie ▁Ho ppe . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁and ▁ 1 9 5 4 ,