It's hard to explain exactly what I'm looking for, but I'd like to read a 'hopeful tragedy'.

What do I mean by that? Well, I'd like to read a manga that has many tragic or incredibly heart-breaking elements, but still ends happily, or at least hopefully. Like, there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel... There should be a feeling in the manga that even if tragic things happen, life is still beautiful, either despite of or even because of those tragedies. By the end of the manga, there should be a feeling of faith in the very fabric of life, and even if you've cried or felt deeply saddened by events previously in the manga, by the end, you somehow have a tremulous smile on your face and a feeling that: "Yeah, everything's gonna be all right."

I want something that's heart-rending but still ends hopefully, and that makes the reader feel that life really is lovely, like a shadow-dappled forest, because it partakes of both darkness and light. And in the end, light wins. 🙂 It's like... a belief in life, in love or in other people... You should feel that belief by the end of the manga, even if it was shaken before. I want a manga that, despite being tragic, is still hopeful.

One example I can think of is Hana no Namae, where a clinically depressed, isolated and painfully lonely man slowly finds love despite having shut it out desperately. During the flashbacks in the 3rd and 4th volumes, I literally CRIED at some of the stuff this poor bastard went through, and yet... Somehow, I was smiling and feeling genuinely happy at the end, knowing that his heart was at last in safe hands. Oh... I can't explain it better, but I just felt happy that he'd manage to conquer his own inner darkness. That he'd found the courage to reach out for the light. (Or that the light had been persistent enough in reaching out to him? Lol.)

Any more like these? I am willing to accept any genre except hentai/ecchi.

Please also make sure that the 'tragedy' isn't just a tacked-on tragic event or a dark past that isn't really dealt with on an emotional level, like all those shoujo stories where an uber-genki girl is orphaned/abandoned and just goes right along singing 'la-la-la' without dealing realistically with the grief of losing her parents. o___O; I'm talking about tragedy that the characters actually FEEL, that totally guts them, that cuts them open and hurts them, and hurts you, too. But then it ends happily or hopefully, of course!) So please don't recommend something like, idk, Fruits Basket, where a supposedly tragic event (girl being orphaned) is just swept over without gutting you or the main character. I want tragedy that FEELS tragic, and yet somehow ends hopefully, at last.

Ai-Ren sounds like what you're looking for. At many points of the manga I felt tears welling up in my eyes and by the last few chapters I was broken and did indeed cry.

Requiem of the Phantom (anime) could be what you're looking for...
I don't want to spoil the ending, but it is somehow satisfying after giving it some thought...
Then again, you can't really call it a happy ending >.>

I think this might fit what you're looking for: Dear Friends
And maybe these two:
Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai
Slow Down

This one is more bittersweet, but still a good story.
Hanshin

I remember it was a tragedy.
Cut

These are just cute and made me happy. You might like them, too.
An Abandoned Cat's House
Kyou Anata ni Wakare wo Tsugemasu

This one is not really popular, but I liked it.
Mon Seul

P.S. Have you read Onani Master Kurosawa?

If I remember correctly, Mars fits, but you've probably read it.
I wouldn't want to spoil but I'm pretty sure Copernicus no Kokyuu is what you're looking for.
Kisshou Tennyo might fit.
Again, I don't want to spoil.

Most of Sahara Mizu's/Yumeka Sumomo's are just that.

Maybe Solanin.

Sakura Gari
Na mo Naki Tori no Tobu Yoake might fit as well.
I Want to Become Your Bird

YKK comes to mind. Although it's not tragic, the world is basically falling apart around them, and humanity is dwindling.
But they still carry on and live. There's so much hope in this manga, despite everything.
Heh, sorry. It's probably not what you're looking for, but I love it so much~

Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.
[img]http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp199/SyberAngelGabrielle/couplesig.jpg[/img]
[color=black]And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.[/color]

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

Bitter Virgin maybe

I'd say Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan. I don't think the ending is exactly what you're looking for, but the way how it ends is both tragically dignified and yet melancholically hopeful at the same time...? Umm, yeah. ;-)

Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa for sure! It might seem ridiculously funny at times, but actually has a very serious storyline. Once you look past the random humour, you'll begin to see the deeper meanings. (Be sure to check out my comment on it too, okay? ^^)

Kino's Journey: the Beautiful World (Novel) - It isn't exactly a tragic story; but if you read the synopsis, you'll see what I mean.

Actually, I agree with NightSwan about Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. It has this lovely 'despite all, life must be enjoyed right up until the end' feeling that I've never seen in any other (post) apocalyptic story.

It still has a long way to go, but I get the feeling that Golden Days'll turn out like this as well.

Beautiful People has a couple of stories with the theme.

Eien no With , Deep Love - Pao no Monogatari , Inu o Kau - About dogs and their relationships with their owner(s). These are really beautiful!

Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai (TSUZUKI Setsuri) - This is an alternate story of the one mentioned by Joziess. I don't know about the similarities between the two, but this version was pretty good.

Shin Angyo Onshi - I haven't read this manhwa (yet) - but going by the countless reviews I've seen, it should fit the bill.

For one-shots ; Brigit's Supper , Birthday , Stray Dog , The Girl's Winter , Sunflower (KIM Yeon-joo) and Till Dawn.

Übel Blatt Ok this manga is now ecchi genered, taught this manga is probably top 3 of my mangas collection and it fits probably much better then any other of the recommendations on the list above. And it's a bit mature taught i think you can read it.
Only 2-3 places with mature content.

Full moon wo sagashite
Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne
Shinshi Doumei Cross
(Fushigi Yuugi)
Ayashi no Ceres
Zettai Kareshi i don´t know if the end can be considerd good or bad..

[img]http://img3.lln.crunchyroll.com/i/spire1/d3534fdb6e3e9a20689515e4361f69ea1312335455_full.jpg[/img]
currently reading: Nyotai-ka
please support me

I suggest Ai-ren. The last chapter got to me, I cried for reasons i dont know. maybe because for the main character.. and his situation 😉 or after all the tragedies that had happened, theres still hope etc.

but i do suggest it only if youre patient enough. u might not get it the first time and i suggest u dont rush it if u do read it

but if you already read that, thn its pretty mch all i can suggest that seems to fit your description of hopeful tragedy.

suzuka---

girl makes guy dance around her pinky finger for 120 chaps or so b4 he gets laid....and nvr says that she likes him till last chapter ...there u have hopeful tragedy 🤣 🤣 🤣

honey and clover

they confess and go diff ways ...she chooses to get fucked by her uncle and he is forced by her to focus on career...even though they love each other...WTF (in gigantic letters)

tayutama kiss on my diety--anime

best shonen manga couples :

shinichi X ran
natsu X erza
ippo X kumi
naruto X gaara

Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna
It has a lot of tragic events throughout the story. I was close to crying many time. It is sort of long, but it is worth the read.

"Be prepared for the worst, my love, for it lives next door to the best."

Banana Fish- one that broke my stupid heart and one of the main characters. If you read it you'll know what I mean. It's a bit lengthy and has some text but the plot is beautiful
Deep Love - Ayu no Monogatari- only manga were I actually shed tears. Not sure if it's a hopeful tragdy though..haven't read it in years
Forever Honey

[img]http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx63/coco6431/Apol186067.jpg[/img]]
I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"

i second Forever Honey
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora i watched the anime, not the manga, but i guess is the same.. and its really good, lovely end.

Kare kano a lill., cz they go through a lot in the story.
Kanojotachi no X-Day kinda too, i have the guy in mind when recommending this... not the main girl.
DOLL: IC in a Doll maybe

sorry for being so vague? XD

oh and Let dai i think it fits

** "It's so warm that, Before the snow has a chance to stick, He melts it for me." **