chōnin (Edo-period social class of town-dwelling commoners, esp. landowning merchants); townspeople; townsfolk; tradespeople
to lend; to loan; to let out on hire
outlet (e.g. for water or gas); market (for something); outlet (e.g. for excess energy); vent (e.g. for emotions)
to carry on one's back; to burden oneself (e.g. with debts, responsibilities, etc.)
economic slump; hard times; poor (business); dull; gloomy; cheerless
to be transparent; to be easily seen through; to be obvious; to be apparent
all over Japan; throughout Japan
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
to buy up; to lay in a stock; to stock up; to buy a lot
two sheets (pieces) (of paper)
eye; eyes; sight; vision; looking
as always; as ever; though it's always the case
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
to put on the market; to put out for sale; to put on sale; to become popular
Nagasaki (city, prefecture)
to collect; to put (it all) together; to summarize; to aggregate; to bring to a conclusion; to finalize
peculiarity; uniqueness; characteristic
technology; engineering; technique; skill; art; craft
taste; liking; preference
the East; the Orient; (East) Asia; Japan
(physical) growth; development
factory; plant; mill; workshop
machine; mechanism; instrument; appliance; apparatus
deserted village; poor village
remote place; backcountry; the sticks; hinterland
existence; possession; having; limited company
you are quite right; quite so; what you say is sensible enough
transactions; dealings; business