At first, Asako served FUJIWARA no Shoshi (also called Taikenmonin) who was the empress of Emperor Toba, and Asako began to be called Ki no tsubone because Asako's father was Ki no kuni no kokushi (the governor of Ki Province).
初め、鳥羽天皇の妃・藤原璋子に仕え、父が紀伊国国司であったことから紀伊局と呼ばれるようになった。