In James Clavell's "Shōgun," a conversation reveals the cultural gap between a foreigner and the Japanese people. A character expresses concern about a woman's nervousness around a foreigner, highlighting her unfamiliarity with Westerners. This illustrates how fear often stems from ignorance and lack of exposure to different cultures.
The speaker reassures the woman by providing a humorous exaggeration about foreigners, suggesting they have fantastical features like horns and breathe fire. This comment serves to ease her anxiety while also showing the deep cultural differences and misunderstandings that can arise between diverse societies.