Former Yomiuri Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe cries during a news conference Tuesday in Tokyo. Photo by EPA/JIJI
Yomiuri Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe resigned after being arrested for an alleged assault of his teenage daughter, he announced Tuesday.
Abe, 47, issued an apology at a news conference in Tokyo. Offensive coach Hideki Hashigami was appointed acting manager of the Giants, the oldest professional sports team in Japan.
“I have caused great trouble to many baseball fans, pro baseball officials and the company through my family troubles,” Abe said. “I have also tarnished the name of manager of the prestigious Yomiuri Giants, so I deeply apologize.”
The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, which owns the Giants, reported that Abe was arrested Monday night for the alleged assault of his 18-year-old daughter at their home in Tokyo. He was released Tuesday morning from the Shibuya Police Station.
The Giants said in an announcement that Abe attempted to stop a fight between his daughters. The newspaper reported that Abe “grabbed her [the 18-year-old] by the collar and threw her to the ground.” Abe later confirmed the allegations to police.
Abe’s 18-year-old daughter said in a statement, read Tuesday by Abe’s representative, that she consulted ChatGPT during the incident, which led to her contacting a child guidance center. The center reported the incident to police. She said she was “shocked” when officers responded hours later to their home and arrested her father. She said she was not injured during the incident and apologized for it becoming “such a major news story.”
The Giants hired Abe in 2023 to serve as manager. The former star catcher played for the team from 2001 through 2019. Abe won a World Baseball Classic title as a player for Japan in 2009. He was a three-time Japan Series champion, the 2012 Central League MVP and the 2009 Japan Series MVP.
The SoftBank Hawks beat the Giants 8-3 on Tuesday in Tokyo. They will battle the Giants again Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome. The Giants (24-23) sit in third place in the Central League, 4.5 games behind the first-place Hanshin Tigers.
The reigning Japan Series champion Hawks, who owned the best record in Nippon Professional Baseball last season, sit in third place in the Pacific League, 3 games behind the first-place Seibu Lions.
