Baseball: Abe resigns as Giants manager after arrest over alleged assault

Shinnosuke Abe meets the media in Tokyo on May 26, 2026, as he resigns as manager of the Yomiuri Giants. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Shinnosuke Abe — manager of the Yomiuri Giants, Japan’s oldest and most storied professional baseball team — stepped down Tuesday following his arrest over an altercation with his daughter.

The popular Tokyo team, viewed as Japan’s closest equivalent to the New York Yankees, accepted Abe’s offer to resign for, as he said, “tarnishing the proud tradition of Giants managers.”

The 47-year-old was taken into custody by police Monday for allegedly grabbing his 18-year-old daughter and forcing her to the floor at their home in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, an investigative source said. She was not injured and he was released early Tuesday.

“I caused tremendous concern and inconvenience to baseball fans, people involved in professional baseball and the organization because of family-related problems. I sincerely apologize,” a tearful and visibly exhausted Abe told reporters at the Giants’ office.

The arrest sent shockwaves across the country, where baseball is one of the most popular sports.

Giants owner Toshikazu Yamaguchi said in a statement, “We view the act of violence very seriously and have determined that he cannot remain as manager.”

Offensive chief coach Hideki Hashigami was appointed as acting manager starting with Tuesday’s interleague game against the SoftBank Hawks at Tokyo Dome, the Giants said.

A star slugging catcher for the Giants before going into coaching, Abe departs midway through the final year of his three-year contract.

“Leaving this way, I feel I have truly caused a lot of trouble,” he said.

Abe, who had a reputation among Giants fans for being a demanding manager who holds players to strict standards, has admitted to the allegation, telling investigators he lost his temper as he tried to mediate a quarrel between his daughters, according to the source.

He was quoted by police as saying he told his daughters to be quiet, but they talked back to him and he became “furious.” He was arrested at home in front of his daughters and wife, the source said. He is believed to have been drunk at the time of the incident.

A child guidance center made an emergency call shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, reporting that the daughter had been assaulted by her father. Child guidance centers in Japan are local government bodies that respond to suspected child abuse and other welfare cases.

In a letter read by a representative, who accompanied Abe when he met with reporters, the daughter denied she had been hit or kicked by her father and said it was the first time that they had such a big fight.

The daughter said that after consulting ChatGPT, she reported the incident to the center as the artificial intelligence chatbot told her that it accepts anonymous consultations.

Noting that the center relayed the issue to police without asking whether she wanted it reported, the daughter said she had not expected officers to show up, and burst into tears when she saw him being led away.

“My father and I have already reconciled, so please don’t worry,” she added.

Abe said, “My daughter, as a third-year high school student, is at a sensitive age, so I would appreciate it if everyone could show compassion toward her.

The former catcher who starred at Chuo University in Tokyo joined the Giants through the 2000 draft. He retired in 2019 and assumed the managerial post from Tatsunori Hara, who managed Japan to victory in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, ahead of the 2024 season after serving as their head coach and battery coach.

Abe led the Giants to the Central League pennant in his first season in charge before finishing third last year. They are currently third.

He had 2,132 hits and 406 home runs during his 19-year professional career with the Giants, leading the Central League in batting average and RBIs in 2012. He initially became the manager of the Giants’ farm team after retiring.

Abe contributed to eight league pennants and three Japan Series titles during his playing career.