AFP - Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima, who has quit the Seattle Mariners one year into his three-year contract, said Tuesday he would join the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League.

"Although I came back to Japan for selfish reasons, Hanshin was the first to come out and set up talks with me," the 33-year-old told a news conference.

Johjima has agreed to a four-year deal worth an estimated two billion yen (22 million dollars) plus performance-related bonuses, Kyodo news agency said.

His old team, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, of Japan's Pacific League, also showed an interest in bringing Johjima back.

"My sentiment toward Fukuoka has not changed a bit but I want to give all I have to Hanshin now," he said.

Johjima debuted with the struggling Mariners in 2006 after 11 seasons with Fukuoka, becoming the first Japanese-born catcher to play in the major leagues.

Seattle signed him to a new 24 million-dollar deal in April last year, which would have run until 2011.

But his playing time has gradually declined from 144 games in 2006, to 112 games in 2008 and only 71 in this past season, when he was put on the disabled list twice and shared the catcher's position with 26-year-old Rob Johnson.

He has finally opted out of the contract's final two years to return to play in Japan.

Johjima batted .268 during his four seasons with the Mariners, hitting 48 home runs and driving in 198 runs in 462 games.