Masako Katsura a carom billiards player who has been largely forgotten in the West, even though she is considered one of the greatest players of all time. In this biography, you’ll learn about her life, achievements, and impact on the game.
The Life of Masako Katsura
Masako Katsura was born in Tokyo, Japan, on November 7 March 1913. She early showed an interest in animation and began making short films at 14. Katsura’s first feature-length film, “The Life of Adele” (1998), attracted critical acclaim and international audiences.
Since then, she has directed several award-winning films, including “Ai No Corrida” (2006), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and “The Tale of Tales” (2015), which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Katsura is also a noted painter and sculptor whose work has been exhibited worldwide. In February 2018, she became a naturalized citizen of Sweden.
In her autobiography, “This is Me: My Life As an Animated Cartoon,” published in English in 2015, Katsura discusses her creative processes and their impact on her life.
How Katsy Became Famous
Katsy was born on 7 March 1913, in Hiroshima, Japan. Her parents were musicians, and Katsy began playing the cello at a young age. In 1973 she graduated from the Music College of Hiroshima and moved to Tokyo to pursue a career as a classical musician. However, after just two years in Tokyo, Katsy decided to try her hand at modeling instead.
Katsy became a popular model and soon started appearing in television commercials and magazine campaigns. she appeared in her first movie – Destination Tokyo – which led to more roles in films and TV shows. In 1998 Katsy starred in her TV series – “Katsuyori” – which ran for six seasons.
In 2006 Katsy released her autobiography titled Memoirs of an Angel: My Life as a Classical Cellist, which tells the story of her life up until that point.
The Crucible of a Professional Billiards Player
Maiko Katsura, aka Katsy, is a professional billiards player who has won numerous tournaments worldwide. Born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture, she began playing pool at nine and quickly developed into one of Japan’s most promising players. Katsy became the first woman to win a professional tournament in China, and she has since won many further tournaments there In 2004.
She get ranked number one in the world by World Pool Tour (WPT), and she retained her position for three years. In 2009, she became Japan’s first female professional champion when she triumphed at the Japanese Open Championship. She has also been runner-up three times at the world championship – in 2007 to Jason Klassen (USA) and Ronnie O’Sullivan (GBR) in 2010 and 2011 – and once at the WPT world championship.
Katsy’s phenomenal record comes as no surprise; her skills are unrivaled. Her game is based on understanding angles, shot selection, and strategy – all of which are essential for success in this demanding sport. Although Katsy enjoys a strong competitive streak, she is always polite and respectful toward her opponents. This gentlemanly attitude has endeared her to many of her fans across the globe.
The End of an Era
On the morning of September 10, 2018, Katsy passed away after a long and honorable battle with ovarian cancer. She was 71 years old. Katsy is the co-founder and art director for the Japanese experimental pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO).
Katsy was born in Tokyo on May 17, 1948. Her father was a diplomat, and her mother worked as an art educator. Shortly after graduating from high school, Katsy moved to New York to study graphic design at Parsons The New School Of Design. However, she eventually abandoned her studies to join YMO in 1972.
At first, YMO consisted of three members: Kazuhiro Hirata (guitar/keyboards), Ryuichi Sakamoto (synthesizer), and Takashi Kitano (drums). Katsy played bass guitar and helped create YMO’s unique sound. Over the next four decades, the group released dozens of albums and won numerous awards in Japan and abroad.
However, Katsy’s work behind the scenes made the biggest impact on audiences worldwide. As art director for YMO, she helped create some of the band’s most memorable concepts, including their famous suits and Comme des Garçons inspired attire. She also served as inspiration for some of Sakamoto’s most celebrated artwork, including his album cover for 1978’s Electronic Music World Pt 2, which featured a caricature of Katsy wearing a backward baseball cap emblematic.
