[3] During this period, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 involved the Japanese government industrializing its agriculture, incentivizing foreigners like McKinnon to travel there and implement new techniques and expertise.

[1] At the time, McKinnon was in northern Japan teaching animal husbandry but hoped to travel to the United States.

She arrived with her husband Andrew McKinnon, her daughter Tama Nitobe, and her younger brother, Rikichi.

[9] With the agricultural decline and social unrest in Japan due to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, a large population of issei immigrated to the United States in hopes for employment and new opportunities.

[10][5] During this period, Iwakoshi earned the title of "Western Empress" as she provided resources, contracts, and advice to the incoming Japanese immigrants in the area.

[11] By June, She had a successful silkworm colony that produced hundreds of yards of fine pure white silk thread.

After further research, it was later discovered that she was buried close to McKinnon in Pioneer Cemetery, with a Japanese cedar marking her grave.

[15] Iwakoshi's daughter, Tama Nitobe, married Japanese restaurant business owner Shintaro Takaki in 1891, when she was 16 years old.