About
Former professional billiards player nicknamed the "First Lady of Billiards." She became the first woman ever to compete for the World Three-Cushion Billiards title back in 1952.
Before Fame
She first learned how to play billiards from her brother-in-law Tomio Kobashi, who was an owner of a billiards club. During her teenage years, she began working there and perfecting her craft.
Trivia
At age 15, she began her career as a professional billiards player touring and winning co-ed tournaments across the Japan and China area. In 1937, she began being taught by Kinrey Matsuyama, a former 3-time National Billiards champion of Japan and a U.S national champion.
Family Life
She was born in Tokyo, Japan, where she lived with her father before his sudden death when she was 12 years old. She had three sisters and a brother. During this time, she began living with her older sister and her husband. She later married a U.S sergeant named Vernon Greenleaf at age 37 and subsequently moved to the United States. They had no children together.
Associated With
Her domination of billiards created opportunities for women such as Jeanette Lee to compete in the Women's Professional Billiard Association's National Games.
