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Nikkan Sports reports that Kenshin Kawakami (36) married a US citizen last year.  Sports Hochi Osaka adds that her name is Mina Patterson (29) and that she is half Japanese (mother is Japanese).

Kawakami is slated to toss batting practice on February 10.

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Takeshi Yamasaki spent some time giving Naomichi Donoue and Ryoji Nakata pointers on hitting on Tuesday.  Masahiko Morino and Hirokazu Ibata have also looked to Yamasaki for some advice as well.

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Morimichi Takagi threw 205 pitches during batting practice on Tuesday (his first outing as a BP pitcher since the start of spring camp) -- he threw eighty-eight pitches to N. Donoue and 117 pitches to Daiki Yoshikawa.

Before practices on Tuesday, Takagi handed out over 100 autographs.  After practices, he spent about an hour signing autographs.

====== UPDATE 2/9 @ 1:52am

Former head coach turned Sponichi baseball analyst, Shigekazu Mori, visited spring camp in Chatan on Tuesday.

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Between throwing batting practice and tossing a bullpen session, Yudai Ono threw about 200 pitches today.  Pitching coach Shinji Imanaka apparently had to step in to stop Ono.

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Ni-gun pitching coach Imanaka visited Ichi-gun camp on Friday and worked with Yudai Ono, Toshiya Okada, and Ryuya Ogawa.

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1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi took fielding practice at short on Friday.  While the team does see him as a third baseman, they also feel he may have a future as a shortstop.  He might also get a look at second.

Morimichi Takagi also spent over twenty minutes hitting grounders to Takahashi.

Kenshin Kawakami and Hitoki Iwase played catch at a max distance of about 60 meters today.

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Morimichi Takagi spent about twenty minutes hitting baseballs to Ryoji Nakata today.

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Enyelbert Soto felt tightness in his right calf during practice on Wednesday and was re-assigned to Ni-gun spring camp.

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1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi is using a Kosuke Fukudome model bat that is 85.6cm long and weighs 910 grams.

Sports Hochi Osaka notes Takahashi displayed more power '(forty-six swings, six over the fence) during his first pro BP session than Kazuhiro Kiyohara (thirty-three swings, three over the fence) and Hideki Matsui (forty-eight swings, four over the fence).

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Chunichi Dragons' OB chairman, Tatsuhiko Kimata, visited Chatan Stadium today.  He met with team player's group chairman Kazuki Yoshimi and handed him some money to use for the team.

Kazuyoshi Tatsunami visited Chatan on Wednesday.

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Additional Updates (2/3 @ 1:05am)

Takagi gave 1st round draft pick Takahashi tips on catching and throwing the ball in one fluid motion during practice on Wednesday.

Kenshin Kawakami officially signed a one-year deal worth 30M yen, plus incentives, with the Chunichi Dragons today; he was also assigned the number eleven.

Nikkan Sports has posted comments from the press conference:

Your thoughts on returning after being away for three years...

I was away from the Dragons for three seasons.  I return full of energy, similar to the way I felt when I was a rookie.  I want to meet the rest of the players and staff.  I just want to do my best to pitch like I used, for the team and for the fans.

Your experiences in America...

There were good things and bad things.  I had a difficult time with the language, but it was a great experience.  Communication is important in both Japan and America.

What are your reasons for returning to Chunichi?

I could not forget about my teammates and Nagoya.  Players like [Masahiro] Yamamoto and [Hirokazu] Ibata told me they wanted me to join the team again and that was a deciding factor.

Your thoughts on the number 11...

I still has not sunk it.  It feels a little strange because other players were wearing it while I was in America.  I actually feel a pressured and want to do my best because I do not want to tarnish number.

Sanspo is carrying the following comments:

You are returning after being away for three years...

I have not stood on the field or thrown a ball yet so it still feels a little strange.  I want to hurry up and meet the players and staff members.

You spent three years in the US...

There were good things and bad things.  I had a tough time with the language, but it was good for [for me] for baseball.  I think communication is important in Japan and the US.

What is your impression of Chunichi right now?

I do not know the strengths of the individual players.  But it seems they run a tight ship.  I think the manager likes to play a tight game of baseball with a focus on defense.

How are you feeling?

I usually have some aches and pains at this time of year, or some uncertainties before the start of camp, but I do not have that this year.

On the start of spring camp...

I have something to show the staff, coaches, and manager.  I want to show them I can provide them with some security.

Kenshin Kawakami and Hitoki Iwase left for Okinawa out of Chubu International Airport today.  Kawakami is scheduled to officially sign a contract with the Dragons tomorrow.

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Morimichi Takagi and team president Katsuhiko Sakai made stops at the Yomitan Village Office and the Chatan Town Office today.

The town of Chatan expressed an interest in throwing a championship parade for the Dragons (if they can win a Nippon Series championship or win the Central League), though nothing official has been discussed.

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Victor Diaz took 45 swings during BP on Sunday and hit 11 over the fence.  He told reporters that he was hitting the ball at about 80%.

"[Diaz] is still pushing too hard.  I need to a see a little more of him.  At this point, I can not say whether or not he passed the tryouts," said Takagi.

The original plan was to decide on Diaz before the start of spring camp.

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Ichi-gun pitching coach Hiroshi Godo told reporters he will most likely swap spots with Ni-gun pitching coach Shinji Imanaka for about three days during the second half of the second block of spring camp in order to get a better look at the talent in the organization.

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Tony Blanco arrived in Japan from the Dominican Republic on Sunday and said to reporters, "I am an employee of the team.  My job is to do my best at the position [the team] gives me.  I just need to do my best.  That is all."

When asked if there was a possibility he might take another position, he replied, "I am a first baseman."

Regarding Takeshi Yamasaki, he said, "[Yamasaki] is a my friend.  He is a nice guy and he is a good friend."

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Enyelbert Soto arrived at Chubu International Airport on Sunday and told reporters, "Starter, reliever, I do not care where I pitch.  I will pitch where ever they tell me."

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Bullpen sessions:

Monday

Takuya Asao threw 46 pitches to a standing catcher.

Nikkan Sports is reporting that the Chunichi Dragons have signed Kenshin Kawakami (36) to a one-year deal worth an estimated 30M yen.  An announcement of the deal could be made as early as today with a press conference in Okinawa on January 31 to [re]introduce Kakawami to the press.  He will join the team from there.

The Dragons are also said to be interested in Kosuke Fukudome (34).

UPDATE @ 12:45pm - According to Sponichi, Kawakami worked out with Masahiro Yamamoto in Tottori this winter and was throwing at about 80%.  Yamamoto also put in a good word with the team for Kawakami.

UPDATE @ 3:57pm - The Dragons apparently offered a one-year deal because they were concerned about his right shoulder.

"I spoke to [Kawakami] a little and he said he wanted to aim for more than 100 innings while pitching as a starter," said Takashi Ide (chief of team development).

Team rep Ryohei Sato added, "If his shoulder is good, we can stick him in the rotation.  We will take a close look."

UPDATE @ 4:43pm - Kawakami is scheduled to arrive in Okinawa on January 30.  He will then sign and be introduced on January 31.

UPDATE @ 8:17pm - Kawakami will get the number eleven.

UPDATE 1/29 @ 12:31am - The Dragons have posted an announcement at their team site.

Chunichi Shimbun (here, here, and here), Nikkan Sports (here), and Sanspo (here) are reporting that the Chunichi Dragons are talking to Kenshin Kawakami (36) about a possible return to Japan.  The reports also indicate that it Kawakami reached out to Chunichi, which prompted them to submit an offer.

UPDATE @ 11:57pm - The Dragons are apparently waiting to hear back from Kawakami.  If negotiations go smoothly, he could join the team in time for spring camp.

With Yu Darvish now officially a member of the Texas Rangers, the Nippon Ham Fighters have begun looking into possible replacements.

Daily Sports reports that they have their eyes on both Kei Igawa (32) and Kenshin Kawakami (36).  They also note the Fighters will be looking into other options as well, like other foreign players and trades (relying on their farm system/youth is another).  Sanspo also drops Kawakami's name.

Via Nikkan Sports: The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay posted the following update on Kosuke Fukudome:

The agent for Kosuke Fukudome has called as well. Fukudome, 34, hit a combined .262/.342/.370 with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland last year.

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Hideki Okajima is working on a new type of two-seam fastball.  He worked out in Kanagawa on Thursday.

"[The New York Yankees] were the first team to call and I thought I had the best chance with them," said Okajima.  "It would be like going from the Yomiuri Giants to the Hanshin Tigers in Japan."

Okajima will be heading to Australia some time later this month to continue his training.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka started his workouts in Ft. Myers on Thursday.  He kept his workouts light and threw the ball about 20 times.  Other than taking about a week off during New Years, Matsuzaka has been working out on a regular basis.

"This is not like any other off-season," said Matsuzaka.  "I am not in a situation where I can sit and relax."

Matsuzaka may also be allowed to toss a bullpen session soon.

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Kenshin Kawakami has posted an update on his blog.  Nikkan Sports seems to think the update means Kawakami is prepared to take the year off if he does not find any takers.

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Hideki Matsui returned to Tokyo from Nomi, Ishikawa on Friday.

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Ichiro Suzuki spent about two and a half hours working out at Hotto Motto Kobe on Thursday (one and a half hours on the field and one hour indoors).  During his first BP session of the year, Ichiro took 72 swings and hit 11 over the fence.

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Norichika Aoki arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday.  Aoki's workouts with the Milwaukee Brewers is expected to take place on 1/8.