Among the nyobo working in the Imperial palace, a court lady who served the Emperor was called 'Ue no nyobo,' and she was distinguished from the nyobo privately serving the Empress (or her family) in kokyu (Empress's residence).
なお内裏で働く女房のうち、天皇に仕えるのは「上の女房」と呼ばれる女官で、後宮の妃（ひいてはその実家）に仕える私的な女房とは区別される。