DIR EN GREY final instore features Kaoru

DIR EN GREY’s in-store campaign for “MORTAL DOWNER” ended in Aichi after a string of album-release events tied to the band’s 12th album. The band’s official channels show “MORTAL DOWNER” was released physically on April 8, 2026, and that release-week and post-release promotion included multiple in-store appearances in Sendai, Okayama, Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo and Aichi. A May 24 update from the band’s English-language social account said the final in-store event featured guitarist Kaoru. Official fan-club and band schedules show the broader run of “MORTAL DOWNER” release commemorative in-store events stretched from April 18 to May 16 on the main posted calendar, while a separate official release update added an Aichi event on May 24 at HMV Sakae. (direngrey.co.jp) ### Which event was the last one? A May 24 official release post identified the Aichi stop as an in-store event at HMV Sakae, scheduled for 13:00 on Sunday, May 24, 2026. That post appeared in the band’s official YouTube community feed and described it as part of the “MORTAL DOWNER” release campaign. The band’s English-language social post the same day said Kaoru attended the final in-store meet, matching the Aichi timing in the official release notice referenced above. (fc.direngrey.co.jp) The available official calendar pages do not show another in-store event after the Aichi listing. ### How broad was the “MORTAL DOWNER” in-store rollout? (youtube.com) DIR EN GREY’s official past schedule lists release-commemoration in-store events on April 18 in Sendai, April 28 in Okayama, May 1 in Fukuoka, May 8 in Osaka and May 16 in Tokyo. Those entries are labeled “『MORTAL DOWNER』 発売記念インストアイベント,” or release commemorative in-store event. (youtube.com) The Aichi date was handled as an added event rather than part of that single archive snapshot. The official YouTube post said additional information had been released for an Aichi in-store event and gave the venue as HMV Sakae. ### What do the official sources confirm about the album itself? DIR EN GREY’s official site lists “MORTAL DOWNER” as the band’s 12th album and gives the release date as April 8, 2026. (fc.direngrey.co.jp) The same site places the album alongside the band’s 2026 touring activity and links it to the current promotional cycle. An official shop listing for the fan-club bundle also described “MORTAL DOWNER” as a 2026.04.08 release, providing a second band-affiliated confirmation of the physical release window. (youtube.com) ### Why was Kaoru the named participant in this update? Kaoru was the member identified in the final-event social update, making him the only band participant explicitly tied in public-facing official material to the closing in-store appearance. (direngrey.co.jp) The official site also separately highlights Kaoru in other media activity, including a March 26 band update about a radio guest appearance. (galaxybroadshop.com) The available official materials surfaced in search do not name a full member rotation for each in-store stop. What they do show is that Kaoru was the member attached to the final May 24 event. ### What comes next on the “MORTAL DOWNER” calendar? DIR EN GREY’s official site lists the next named “MORTAL DOWNER” headline dates as July 18 and July 19, 2026, at Tokyo Garden Theater. (youtube.com) The band’s site presents those shows as the next major scheduled milestone after the spring tour and release events. (direngrey.co.jp)