She was brought up by the parents with much love, and it was said her father, the Cloistered Emperor Toba seriously considered Imperial Princess Akiko to become successor to the throne after Emperor Konoe died in 1155. ("Gukansho" (A Selection of the Opinions of a Fool))
両親の鍾愛を受けて育ち、久寿2年（1155年）近衛天皇の崩御後に父・鳥羽法皇は彼女を次の天皇にする事を真剣に考えたともいわれている（『愚管抄』）。