The protagonist feels lost when trying to engage with a Japanese businessman due to her lack of knowledge about the language, culture, or business practices in Japan. She struggles to find common ground, realizing that her only reference point is sushi, which seems insufficient for a meaningful conversation. This awkwardness highlights her anxiety and the cultural gap she faces.

The comparison she makes emphasizes the difficulty in initiating conversation across different cultures. Just as it would be inappropriate for someone to mention T-bone steak to a top American businessman without context, her desire to discuss sushi feels equally out of place. This reflects her internal conflict about connecting authentically with someone from a vastly different background.