Police and consumer centers across Japan have received more than 1,500 inquiries from people affected by a scandal involving a gala dress kimono retail and rental firm. The total value of contracts drawn up between the firm and the consumers who have consulted with the centers has topped 270 million yen, or nearly 2.5 million dollars.

The scandal broke last week when the firm, Harenohi, failed to open for business on Coming of Age Day on January 8th. Scores of young women were left unable to dress up for the once in a lifetime occasion.

Some consumer centers say up to two thirds of the inquiries concerned contracts for next year's Coming of Age Day ceremony or later.

Sources say Harenohi President Yoichiro Shinozaki consulted with a business acquaintance in September last year about his company's financial difficulties.

The sources say the firm may have been already in the red for more than 2.7 million dollars at that point.

Source: ANNnewsCH