Shinnosuke Abe has resigned as manager of Japan’s legendary Yomiuri Giants baseball team following his arrest over the alleged assault of his teenage daughter in Tokyo.
The 47-year-old former baseball star stepped down on Tuesday during a news conference where he apologized for what he described as “trouble caused by family matters.” Abe was later released after the incident.
According to reports from the Yomiuri newspaper, which owns the Yomiuri Giants franchise, Abe allegedly grabbed his 18-year-old daughter by the collar and threw her to the floor while attempting to stop a fight between her and her younger sister at their home on Monday.
The teenager reportedly sought advice from artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT about what to do after the incident. In a statement released Tuesday, she said she contacted a child guidance center after using the AI app, not expecting authorities to escalate the matter.
She explained that the child guidance center later notified police, who arrived at the family’s home hours later.
“I broke down in tears seeing my father apprehended,” she said in the statement.
The daughter also noted that she did not suffer injuries and confirmed that she and her father have since reconciled, urging the public not to worry about their family.
Reports said Abe admitted to the allegation and acknowledged losing his temper during the altercation between his daughters.
Abe is one of Japanese baseball’s most recognized figures. During his playing career, he led Japan’s Central League in batting average and RBIs in 2012, achieved 2,000 career hits in 2017, and retired from professional baseball in 2019 before becoming manager of the Yomiuri Giants in 2024.
The Giants announced that offensive chief coach Hideki Hashigami will serve as acting manager following Abe’s resignation.
