Shinya Aoki is the lightweight champion of Dream, Japan’s biggest MMA promotion.  He firmly established himself as the best in Japan.

Now he’s ready to take North America by storm.  After signing a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce, and a fight contract against Lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez, Aoki said adding the Strikeforce title would mean something important to him.  He says it’s not just for personal pride, but for national pride as well.

“I believe that Japan is the number one country in mixed martial arts, so I want to show that through this fight,” Aoki said Wednesday, through a translator. “Being the champion of two promotions, Dream and Strikeforce, that has a special meaning to me, to show Japan as number one.

Aoki is considered the second best lightweight in the world behind UFC champ BJ Penn.  Aoki say’s he has no plans to sign with the UFC, but would eventually like to fight BJ Penn.  Aoki knows that until he beats BJ Penn, he can’t call himself the best in the world, no matter how many belts are around his waist.

“I’m getting stronger every day,” Aoki said. “I’m not number one at the moment but I’m getting stronger every day. In the future I may have a fight with B.J. Penn.”

In addition to Penn, Aoki says he’s a big fan of UFC’s Kenny Florian, and that he will be watching when Florian faces Takanori Gomi this month.

Aoki said he’s not concerned about the rules differences between Japan and the United States, which include fighting in a cage and forcing Aoki to wear shorts rather than the grappling pants he prefers. But he is concerned about Melendez, whom he described as one of the toughest opponents he’s ever faced.

“I’m training in a cage so I’ll be ready for that,” Aoki said. “He’s strong in every element. It’s very difficult to find a weakness.

Until that weigh-in, American fans won’t see Aoki, and that’s how he likes it. For as excited as he is about the chance to fight for an American promotion’s title belt, he says his first priority is to make a good showing for Dream, and for Japan.

“My schedule is dependent on Dream so Dream will decide when I fight again,” Aoki said. “The United States is the biggest market so it’s important for me to attract fans here and make a good impression in the U.S. market, but if I win the Strikeforce belt I am doing it for Dream and for Japan.”