LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have set some kind of record this winter for holding press conferences to introduce new players, but the one they held on Thursday was extraordinary even for them.

The occasion was to announce the signing of Japanese third baseman Norihiro Nakamura. It was attended by more than 100 members of the Japanese media, as well as Japan's Consul General to the United States. Sushi was on the house.

Following in the footsteps of trailblazer and former Dodger Hideo Nomo, the 31-year-old Nakamura has longed to make this move. If you don't believe it, consider that he walked away from a guaranteed $10 million contract over the next two years in Japan to sign a $500,000 non-guaranteed minor league deal with the Dodgers only to fight for a job as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.

"The money is not important," said Nakamura. "At long last I'm wearing a Dodger uniform. Now the challenge is to show what I can do."

He's done enough in Japan (307 homers in 13 seasons) to be an eight-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, but the past two years have been filled with injury and disappointment.

He backed out of a two-year, $7 million deal two years ago to join the Mets because word leaked out before he could formally notify his previous team, the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

"Because of Japanese culture and custom, that was not the business norm," he said. "Everything is clean and done the right way this time."

He played much of the 2003 season with torn knee cartilage, underwent surgery in October, then spent last Spring Training with the Dodgers in an exchange program at the urging of Dodgers senior vice president Tom Lasorda, who, along with director of Asian operations Acey Kohrogi and professional scouting director Matt Slater, was credited with keeping the organization focused on Nakamura.

He comes into camp a longshot, although a return to the 40-plus home-run power he's displayed in the past could win him at least a piece of the third-base position. With Adrian Beltre gone, the Dodgers signed left-handed hitting Jose Valentin as a free agent.

Agent Don Nomura said Nakamura would be willing to play at Triple-A, but his client said he's not thinking about that right now. He said his focus is not only making the Opening Day roster, but the lineup as well. He said his knee injury is completely healed.

"Last year I got into bad habits compensating from the surgery, but I've gotten rid of them," said Nakamura, who hit .274 with 19 homers and 66 RBIs in 105 games in 2004.

Lasorda, whose role as a senior advisor includes substantial duties representing the organization in Japan, is expected to take an active role in Nakamura's Spring Training.

"I talked to him years ago about being a leader and he led his club to the championship," Lasorda said. "I've seen him hit a ball in batting practice so far, it would have been an $11 cab ride to where it landed. He can run for a big guy. He's a good fielder. He can play."

Lasorda said Nakamura is agile enough to make the switch across the diamond and play first base, where Hee-Seop Choi is tentatively slated to play despite his late-season troubles last year.

"He's an incredibly accomplished player," said general manager Paul DePodesta. "And we're even more impressed with him as a person. This is an unusual situation. He's not your standard first-year minor leaguer."

Nakamura has a .263 career batting average and 916 RBIs to go with 307 home runs. He twice led the Japanese League in home runs, most recently in 2002 with 42. In addition to third base, he has played some shortstop and first base. He joins Nomo, Kazuhisa Ishii and Masao Kida as Japanese players who have signed with the Dodgers.