[2] Katahira was born in 1989 in the Greater Tokyo Area, Japan.

When she arrived, she couldn't speak English,[3] a situation she shared with classmate I. K.

In 2010, she took first place at the NJCAA Women's Golf Championship, scoring 211 (−5) for the tournament, the lowest three-round score in NJCAA tournament history.

[6] In 2011, she defended her NJCAA Women's Golf Championship title.

[7] Katahira turned professional in 2011 and tied for 31st at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn conditional status.