Explanation:
The purpose of the Japanese tourists whom Offred and Ofglen encounter while shopping in Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” is to showcase the stark contrast between the oppressive regime of Gilead and the outside world. These tourists symbolize the international community’s curiosity and fascination with the dystopian society of Gilead, as well as their ignorance of the horrors that the handmaids and other marginalized groups face within the regime. Their presence serves as a reminder of the isolation and secrecy enforced by Gilead’s rulers, highlighting the stark divide between the oppressive regime and the rest of the world.