The team is on a roll, but he’s holed up at home… Former Giants Manager Shinnosuke Abe: “No Indictment” Seems Certain, but the “Price” Is Too High

He is not the mentally strong type

It has been revealed that former Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe (47) was referred to prosecutors by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on June 9 on suspicion of assault. He is suspected of assaulting his 18-year-old eldest daughter at his home in Shibuya Ward on May 25, including grabbing her by the collar and pushing her to the ground.

Former manager Abe reportedly told his eldest and second daughters, who had started fighting, to “be quiet.” He admitted to the assault, stating that he “lost his temper” when his eldest daughter talked back.

The unusual turn of events—in which the eldest daughter, who was assaulted, consulted ChatGPT, was directed to a child guidance center, and the police became involved—also drew public attention. At the press conference held the day after the incident to announce former manager Abe’s resignation, the eldest daughter submitted a letter stating:

“I am the one who is most surprised that the police came (omitted) I deeply regret causing such a commotion and making this into such a big deal,”

expressing her remorse. On social media, opinions were divided regarding the responses of the child guidance center and the police, and a petition calling for former manager Abe’s reinstatement gathered 130,000 signatures.

“This has become a story that transcends the realm of professional baseball. It has highlighted various issues, including problems in the AI era,” said a director of a news program.

According to some reports, the police attached a recommendation for “lenient treatment” when referring the case to prosecutors. In an unusual move, the police decided not to seek an indictment after considering the circumstances, making it highly likely that the case will result in no charges being filed.

Still, the clock cannot be turned back. A person familiar with former manager Abe told Friday Digital:

“Abe had decided this season would be his last as manager. That’s precisely why he was giving his all to the team… but his ambitions were cut short. It’s a huge shock. I’m worried about him, especially since he isn’t the type with strong mental resilience.”

Reportedly, he has been staying at home, perhaps out of concern for the media spotlight.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that the Giants, now without him, are riding a wave of success. His successor is interim manager Hideki Hashigami (60).

Will he end up as “Godzilla”!?

Under acting manager Hashigami, who took the helm after the interleague games, the Giants are in top form, racking up six straight wins with just one tie in between. They took the top spot in the Central League on June 10. When asked about the reasons for this success, beat reporters point to the “open communication” within the team.

“Since Hashigami took over as interim manager, players have been actively exchanging ideas with each other, suggesting things like, ‘Maybe we should try this.’ Hashigami listens to those suggestions and puts them to use in actual games,” said a sports newspaper reporter covering the Giants.

Former manager Abe had a “sports club-style” approach, for better or worse, and his moods were said to fluctuate. Another Giants beat reporter noted , “It was rare for young players to voice their opinions to Manager Abe… There was a sense of tension throughout the entire team.”

In contrast, Interim Manager Hashigami follows the data-driven approach of Katsuya Nomura. He is said to be actively communicating with everyone from the players to the support staff.

“That attitude seems to be influencing team leader Hayato Sakamoto (37) as well; even as a veteran, he is actively joining the younger players and the pitching staff to communicate with them. He’s likely motivated by a sense of ‘I have to do something’ in the face of the team’s crisis,” said the same sports newspaper reporter.

If the team goes on to win the league title, Giants fans might start calling for “Hashigami to stay on”—but a Yomiuri Group official dismisses the idea, stating , “There is an unwritten rule that the Yomiuri Giants, as the dominant force in baseball, must be led by a homegrown player who is also an ace-level pitcher.”

“The possibility of Hashigami staying on is ‘virtually zero.’The name being mentioned as a candidate for the next manager is former manager Yoshinobu Takahashi (51), and there is also a possibility that Masahiro Kawai (61), the first-team defense chief coach, could be appointed on a temporary basis. Ultimately, the real desire is to install ‘Godzilla’ Hideki Matsui (52) as manager.

‘Manager Matsui’ is a long-cherished dream of the Yomiuri Group. The coaching staff surrounding him would likely be a star-studded lineup. It seems unlikely that former manager Abe will be wearing a Giants uniform anytime soon. Given how strict the climate is regarding harassment these days, it’s hard to imagine him wearing another team’s uniform either.A return to active baseball seems highly unlikely. If he can return as a commentator, that would be a blessing. He’ll probably start by writing a column for the Yomiuri Group’s *Sports Hochi*.”

I wonder what former manager Abe is thinking as he watches the Giants’ impressive run right now—