Goodbye, Eri

Compare and contrast Eri and Yuta’s mother. What do their similarities and differences contribute to the plot and themes? What differences help to contextualize their choices, and does either character appear more justified in their requests of Yuta?

In what ways does the manga use metafiction not just as a stylistic device, but as a means of shaping emotional truth, identity, or grief? How does the blending of fiction and reality deepen the story’s impact on both Yuta and the reader?

Discuss and analyze the symbolism and significance of the camera’s perspective in the narrative, including how this perspective is visually portrayed. How does the camera both shield Yuta and implicate him in the events he records? What might the camera suggest about how we use media to process or curate painful experiences?

What does Yuta’s father mean when he says that Yuta “always sprinkled a pinch of fantasy into everything” (83), and why is this important to the narrative? How does this creative impulse evolve over time? Consider how Yuta uses fantasy to protect himself, communicate with others, or reshape the meaning of events—especially trauma and loss.

Why does Yuta turn Eri into a vampire in his movie? How does this decision function both as an emotional gesture and a storytelling device? What might it reveal about Yuta’s relationship to death, memory, or the idea of legacy?

Discuss and analyze the relationship between curated content, authenticity, and memory in the manga. How might this theme apply in real-world contexts? How do these issues appear in your own life? Explain using examples from the text and personal experience.

How do the three major themes intertwine or influence each other? Consider how storytelling as a coping mechanism interacts with the challenges of curation and memory. How does friendship—and the desire to preserve it—complicate Yuta’s efforts to tell an honest story? In what ways do these themes build toward the manga’s emotional climax?

How does Goodbye, Eri portray suicidal ideation without glorifying or trivializing it? Does the manga suggest any cultural or emotional barriers to discussing grief, mental health, or trauma—and are these specific to Japan or more universal?