Chunichi Dragons ace closer Hitoki Iwase will be returning to the 2010 Central League champions for an unchanged ¥430 million next season.

Iwase, 36, remained as the highest paid Japanese player along with the Yomiuri Giants' Michihiro Ogasawara after renewing his contract at the team office on Wednesday. The Giants gave Ogasawara a ¥50 million raise last week.

"Over the past two years, I haven't been pitching the way I wanted toward the end of the season," Iwase said. "More than ever, I want to take better care of my body and contribute to hopefully defending the title next season."

Iwase, who enters the third year of a four-year, salary-adjustable deal next season, will be the highest paid Japanese pitcher for the fifth consecutive year.