Under the policy of governments of the Meiji period 'Fukoku Kyohei' (fortifying the country, strengthening the military), the filature in Suwa area of Nagano Prefecture where richly endowed with water supported modernization of Japan to earn foreign currency, and many female workers like Mine reluctantly left their family home and went over the Nomugi Pass for work, that was quite usual in those days.
明治政府による富国強兵のもと、外貨獲得のために日本の近代化を支えたものは水の豊富な長野県諏訪地域における製糸業であり、みねを始め多くの女性労働者が家族との別れを惜しみつつ野麦峠を越え出稼ぎに出る，当時はそんな時代だったのである。