Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima will step down from the helm of Japan's most popular baseball team at the end of the season, chairman of the board Tsuneo Watanabe said at a press conference Friday.

Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima (right) announces his resignation at a Tokyo hotel Friday afternoon as Giants owner Tsuneo Watanabe looks on.

The team's head coach Tatsunori Hara will take over as new manager next season, Watanabe said.