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Is Farewell My Dear Cramer Manga Finished? Status

Yes, Farewell, My Dear Cramer Is Finished — The Manga Ended in April 2021

The short answer: yes, the manga is complete.

Farewell, My Dear Cramer ran in Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine — a Japanese manga magazine aimed primarily at young male readers (that’s what “shonen” means), though the series appeals to a much wider audience. The manga was originally published chapter by chapter in that magazine before being collected into book-form volumes, a standard process in the manga world called serialization. The serialization in the magazine ended in December 2020, and the final collected volume (Vol. 14) was released in April 2021. The series ran for just under five years, having begun serialization in May 2016.

Here are the key numbers:

  • Total volumes: 14 (both the Japanese and English editions)
  • Total chapters: 55
  • Author: Naoshi Arakawa (新川直司)
  • Japanese publisher: Kodansha
  • English publisher: Kodansha Comics (the English-language division of Kodansha, one of Japan’s largest publishers)

The manga is a women’s soccer story set in the Japanese high school tournament scene. It follows a cast of young players navigating the sport they love — the rivalries, the teamwork, the personal growth that comes with dedicating yourself to something bigger than yourself. If you’ve read Naoshi Arakawa’s other work — particularly Your Lie in April, an acclaimed music drama — you already know this creator has a talent for emotional storytelling wrapped around passionate characters. And if you haven’t, no worries — Farewell, My Dear Cramer stands entirely on its own.

All 14 English-language volumes have been released by Kodansha Comics, which means this is a fully collectible completed series. No missing volumes, no hard-to-find out-of-print gaps (where older volumes stop being printed and become difficult to track down) to worry about — the whole story is available right now.

How the Story Wraps Up (Spoiler-Light)

Without getting into spoiler territory, here’s what you can expect from the story’s overall trajectory and its conclusion.

Farewell, My Dear Cramer follows its cast through the world of women’s high school soccer in Japan. The story builds around team dynamics, individual player growth, and the competitive tournament structure that gives sports manga their momentum. Think training sequences where characters push their limits, heated matches with real stakes, and the kind of character development that makes you genuinely care about who wins and loses.

The Final Stretch

The later volumes push the team into the highest-stakes matches of their competitive journey. Arakawa uses the tournament structure to raise the emotional tension — each match matters more than the last, and the personal storylines that have been building across earlier volumes come to a head during these games.

Does It Provide Closure?

The manga reaches a definitive ending. This isn’t one of those series that stops mid-storyline or leaves you hanging with an open-ended final page. The story concludes its central narrative threads, and Volume 14 serves as a clear stopping point.

For readers who dislike investing in a manga only to find out it was cancelled or rushed to a premature close, Farewell, My Dear Cramer ran its course across 55 chapters and wrapped up on its own terms.

Complete Volume Guide — All 14 Volumes

The full series spans 14 volumes in both the Japanese and English editions. Every volume is available in English from Kodansha Comics, making this one of the more accessible completed sports manga for English-speaking readers.

Important Note About the English Title

When shopping for this series in English, be aware that Kodansha Comics released the English edition under the title “Farewell, My Dear Cramer.” However, you may also encounter the related title “Sayonara, Football” — this is a companion prequel by Naoshi Arakawa that follows a different protagonist — Nozomi Onda — in the same women’s soccer world during middle school. The two titles can cause confusion when searching online retailers. On Amazon specifically, the main series volumes appear under the combined numbering Sayonara, Football [N]: Farewell, My Dear Cramer — that’s intentional publisher numbering, not a listing error. If you’re not finding results for one title, try the other, or search by the author name Naoshi Arakawa to see all available volumes. This will save you some frustration.

A Note on the Prequel

Naoshi Arakawa also created Sayonara, Football, a shorter work that covers the middle school period before the events of Farewell, My Dear Cramer. You do not need to read it first — Farewell, My Dear Cramer works perfectly as a standalone starting point. However, if you enjoy the main series and want more of the same world, the prequel follows a different protagonist in that same soccer setting. Check the Kodansha Comics catalog for availability.

Volume Highlights

Here’s a general roadmap of the 14-volume journey:

Volume 1 — The Starting Point

This is where everything begins. You’ll meet the core cast, get introduced to the high school soccer setting, and see the early team dynamics take shape. Arakawa does solid work establishing the characters’ personalities and motivations right from the first volume. If you enjoy women’s sports stories or appreciate emotionally grounded storytelling, Volume 1 will tell you quickly whether this series is for you.

Volumes 2–7 — Building the Team and the Stakes

The middle stretch of the series develops the roster of players, deepens rivalries, and escalates the competitive intensity. This is where the match sequences really start to shine — Arakawa’s artwork during games captures both the tactical and emotional sides of soccer, using dynamic page layouts to convey the speed and tension of each play. Character backstories fill out during these volumes, giving the tournament matches real weight. Readers who stick past the setup of Volume 1 tend to find that the series hits its stride in this stretch.

Volumes 8–13 — The Tournament Push

The back half of the series ramps up significantly. The team faces their toughest opponents, and individual characters confront personal challenges that run parallel to the on-field action. These volumes are where the manga hits its emotional peaks, and the match stakes feel genuinely consequential because you’ve had time to invest in the characters.

Volume 14 — The Finale

The final volume brings the story to its conclusion. All the threads that Arakawa wove through the preceding 13 volumes come together here. Whether you’ve been reading for the soccer, the characters, or both, this is where it all pays off. One shopping note: on Amazon, this final book is listed under the combined series numbering as Sayonara, Football 16.

Farewell, My Dear Cramer, Vol. 14 (final volume)

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Format and Availability

Detail Info
Total Volumes 14
Total Chapters 55
English Publisher Kodansha Comics
Originally Published In Monthly Shonen Magazine (a Japanese manga magazine)
Volume Publication Period August 2016 – April 2021
Serialization Period (Magazine) May 2016 – December 2020
English Availability All 14 volumes released

The series is available in both print and digital formats through Kodansha Comics. Digital is convenient for immediate reading; print is great if you want the full set on your shelf. At 14 volumes, it’s a manageable collection that won’t take over an entire bookcase.

Are There Any Sequels or Spin-Offs?

This is a common question for any completed manga, especially one with a cast of characters that readers get attached to. Here’s what we know.

No Confirmed Sequel Manga

As of the information available, there is no confirmed sequel manga continuing the story beyond Volume 14. Naoshi Arakawa wrapped the series in April 2021, and no follow-up has been announced.

The Prequel: Sayonara, Football

As mentioned above, Arakawa’s Sayonara, Football covers the middle school years and can be considered a companion to Farewell, My Dear Cramer. It’s not a sequel, but if you finish the main series and want more time with these characters, it’s worth seeking out.

Anime Adaptations

Farewell, My Dear Cramer did receive anime adaptations, including both a TV anime series and a film. The anime brought the manga’s soccer sequences to life with animation, giving fans another way to experience the story. If you enjoy the manga and want more time in this world, the anime adaptations are worth looking into — check a resource like MyAnimeList or your preferred streaming service for current availability and episode details.

Naoshi Arakawa’s Other Work

If you finish Farewell, My Dear Cramer and want more from the same creator, Naoshi Arakawa is best known for Your Lie in April (四月は君の嘘), a drama about a young pianist that earned widespread acclaim and its own anime adaptation. Arakawa has a recognizable style — emotionally resonant stories with strong character development — so fans of Farewell, My Dear Cramer often find Your Lie in April to be a natural next read.

Where to Start Reading

Getting into Farewell, My Dear Cramer is straightforward. There’s no complicated reading order and no multiple timelines to sort out.

Just Start with Volume 1

The series follows a straightforward chronological story from Volume 1 through Volume 14. Pick up the first volume, and you’re set. No prerequisites needed. As noted above, the prequel Sayonara, Football exists but is entirely optional — you can read it before, after, or never.

Shopping Tips

  • Search by author name if the title alone isn’t pulling up results — look for Naoshi Arakawa on your preferred retailer
  • On Amazon, all 14 volumes of Farewell, My Dear Cramer are listed as Sayonara, Football 3–16 — this is intentional publisher numbering, not a listing error (as noted in the English Title section above). Searching “Farewell, My Dear Cramer” will surface the correct results since it appears as the subtitle on each listing. If you want only the standalone original prequel, look for Sayonara, Football 1–2 specifically.
  • Kodansha Comics is the English publisher, so look for their branding on the cover to confirm you’re getting the official English translation — this means the manga has been adapted from Japanese to English by a licensed publisher (a process called localization)
  • The series is available digitally and in print — digital is great for sampling the first volume before committing to the physical collection

Who Will Enjoy This Series?

Farewell, My Dear Cramer is a great pick if you:

  • Love women’s sports stories — this is one of the standout manga focused on women’s soccer
  • Enjoy character-driven sports manga — the series balances competitive action with personal development
  • Want a completed series — at 14 volumes, you can read the entire story without waiting for new releases
  • Like Naoshi Arakawa’s work — if you enjoyed Your Lie in April, you’ll find the same emotional storytelling here
  • Are new to sports manga — the volume count is manageable and the story doesn’t require any soccer knowledge to enjoy

At 14 volumes and 55 chapters, this is a satisfying but not overwhelming commitment. You can easily read through the whole series in a week or two of casual reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes of Farewell, My Dear Cramer are there?

There are 14 volumes in both the Japanese and English editions, containing a total of 55 chapters. All volumes have been released in English by Kodansha Comics, so the complete series is available to English-speaking readers.

Why might the English volumes have a different title?

The main source of confusion is between Farewell, My Dear Cramer (the main series) and Sayonara, Football (a companion prequel set in the same soccer world, featuring a different protagonist — Nozomi Onda). Both are by Naoshi Arakawa and both are published by Kodansha Comics in English. Additionally, publishers sometimes adjust titles slightly when adapting a Japanese manga for English-speaking markets. When shopping, try searching for “Farewell, My Dear Cramer,” “Sayonara, Football,” or the author name Naoshi Arakawa to make sure you’re finding the right volumes.

Is there an anime adaptation?

Yes. Farewell, My Dear Cramer received both a TV anime series and an anime film. These adaptations cover material from the manga, giving fans animated versions of the story’s soccer matches and character moments. For specific details about episode counts and streaming availability, check MyAnimeList or your preferred streaming platform for the most current information.

Who is the author of Farewell, My Dear Cramer?

The manga was written and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa (新川直司). Arakawa is also the creator of Your Lie in April, a widely acclaimed drama manga that also received an anime adaptation. If you enjoy Farewell, My Dear Cramer, Your Lie in April is a natural next step — it showcases the same strength in emotional storytelling and character development.

Is the manga worth reading if I’ve already seen the anime?

The manga is the original version of the story — the anime was adapted from it, not the other way around. Reading the manga gives you the full story as Arakawa intended, and manga versions often cover more ground than their anime counterparts. You also get to experience Arakawa’s artwork and pacing firsthand, which hits differently on the page than in animation. For fans of the anime who want the complete picture, the manga is well worth picking up.

Can I read this manga if I don’t know anything about soccer?

Absolutely. While the series is grounded in the world of women’s high school soccer, the story is built around characters and their personal journeys. You don’t need to understand offside rules or formation tactics to follow along — the manga explains what matters for the story, and the emotional core is accessible to anyone. Plenty of sports manga fans got hooked on series about sports they’d never watched in real life, and Farewell, My Dear Cramer works the same way.

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