The chihuahua is helping Aiful, the fourth-largest firm, to increase its share of new loans.

ECONOMIST: Japanese consumer finance

So stocks in lenders like Acom and Aiful have plunged between 44% and 65% from their yearly highs.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Takefuji and competitors like Aiful and Acom charged them interest rates as high as 29.2% on short-term loans until the maximum rate was lowered to 20% earlier this year, among other limits imposed over the past four years.

FORBES: End Of The Dance For Takefuji