The Liverpool is strong with you lads. New Yorker here with tons of friends from all over the UK and the Commonwealth. Yours is the first accent I need subtitles for. Maybe pretend you're not speaking with your mates, but instead are talking to a tourist? LOL. Just kidding. Keep it coming. I'll pick up the singsong aspect to the dialect eventually. Until then, SUBTITLES!

You were kind of both right. The Portuguese kept the Japanese in the dark about Europe, but they are speaking Portuguese when they speak English in the series.

My dudes, the 'sudden decapitation' in the beginning was because the Samurai, Omi (guy who pissed on Blackthorne), was the lord of the village, and gave the villager a command -- "STEP BACK." Instead, the dead man stood his ground and took the time to make the sign of the cross to show Blackthorne that he's not the only Christian present. The villager disobeyed a direct order from a Samurai, AND the lord of his village. Two unforgivable offenses. Samurai WILL NOT BE DISOBEYED in the social order at this time. Instant forefeit of life for the peasant.