Pacheco recalled being stunned at coming across such scenes in Tokyo's Shibuya, Shinbashi and Ikebukuro entertainment districts and the fact that passers-by paid them no heed. Determined to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon, she consulted a Japanese friend who told her that sleeping outdoors "is a typical style for salarymen." Inspired by the imagery that seemed so out of place with Japan's reputation for notoriously long work hours and group mentality so as not to stand out, Pacheco, 36, created a documentary film on the theme simply titled "Salaryman."