Yomiuri Giants manager Abe resigns after arrest for alleged assault on daughter

Shinnosuke Abe has resigned as manager of the Yomiuri Giants following his arrest for allegedly assaulting his 18-year-old daughter. The incident occurred at their home in Tokyo on Monday, during which Abe allegedly grabbed his daughter by the collar and threw her to the floor while attempting to intervene in a dispute between her and her younger sister.

Abe, 47, was released by police after admitting to the allegation and apologising for causing trouble due to family matters. He addressed the media on Tuesday, stating he had lost his temper when he witnessed the conflict between the sisters. The Yomiuri newspaper, which owns the team, confirmed the details of the arrest and the subsequent resignation.

The matter came to light after Abe’s daughter sought advice via the artificial intelligence app ChatGPT regarding the situation. She contacted a child guidance centre, which subsequently reported the incident to the police. Hours later, officers arrived at the family home, an event the daughter described as causing her to break down in tears upon seeing her father apprehended.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the daughter clarified that she was not injured and had reconciled with her father, asking the public not to worry. Abe’s playing career included leading the Central League in batting average and RBIs in 2012, reaching 2,000 career hits in 2017, and retiring in 2019 before becoming team manager in 2024.

The Yomiuri Giants have appointed offensive chief coach Hideki Hashigami as acting manager to replace Abe. The team, one of Japan’s most storied baseball franchises, now faces a leadership transition amidst the legal and personal fallout from the incident.