More than 20 pairs of banks and borrower firms of varying sizes have applied for help from the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan, IRCJ Chief Operating Officer Kazuhiko Toyama said Thursday.

Toyama, a turnaround consultant who heads the revival body's operations, was eager to deny speculation that banks are not forthcoming with IRCJ applications, stating his organization is busy catching up with orders.

"Bankers are very active in bringing cases to us," Toyama, 43, told journalists at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.