BOSTON — The Red Sox anded another Japanese pitcher, completing their contract with right-hander Junichi Tazawa today.

"I wanted to challenge myself to do more in the United States," Tazawa, who spurned professional teams in Japan to sign with the Red Sox, said through a translator at a Fenway Park news conference.

Tazawa is expected to begin next season in Double-A but could soon join Japanese pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima with the big club.

"I did speak to them, we talked about baseball and also some cultural issues," Tazawa said about his countrymen and potential future teammates. "(Matsuzaka) has got a presence that's even more above the clouds, which means that he's been a great hero of mine."

After winning the 2007 World Series, Boston advanced to Game 7 of the AL championship series this year before losing to Tampa Bay.

Other teams thought to be interested in Tazawa included the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said Tazawa throws in the low 90 mph range, with a changeup, curveball and slider that he can throw for strikes.

"We think he's a solid prospect," Epstein said. "Where he starts out remains to be seen. He absolutely dominated the industrial leagues in Japan."