Kinrey Matsuyama[1] (松山 金嶺, Matsuyama Kinrei, died December 20, 1953) was a Japanese billiards player. A Time article from 1952 referred to Matsuyama as a Japanese Willie Hoppe. By 1952 Matsuyama's last visit to the United States was in 1936. Matsuyama coached Masako Katsura.[2] Matsuyama died on December 20, 1953, from a heart ailment.[3] Matsuyama had had plans to move to Honolulu with his family, become an American citizen, and purchase a billiard parlor. His eldest son, Hideo, 18, was attending a San Francisco high school at the time. Matsuyama was said to have taught all of Japan's top players, among whom Katsura was his star pupil.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Byrne, Robert. Byrne's Advanced Technique in Pool and Billiards. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1990. 146. Retrieved on August 8, 2010. ISBN 0-15-614971-0, ISBN 978-0-15-614971-6.
  2. ^ "Sport: Lady with a Cue." TIME. Monday March 17, 1952. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.
  3. ^ "HEART AILMENT FATAL TO JAP BILLIARDS STAR." Chicago Daily Tribune. December 21, 1953. C2. Page 1. Retrieved on August 8, 2010. "Japanese professional billiards Kinrei Matsuyama 56 died last night of a heart ail ment."
  4. ^ "Matsuyama, Billiard Artist, Dies in Japan" (fee required). Oakland Tribune. December 21, 1953. p. 51.