Her father was a close aide to the Cloistered Emperor Toba, Shigeko also served the Cloistered Emperor's daughter, Imperial Princess Toshi (the Retired Emperor Goshirakawa's half older sister) as a lady in waiting.
父は鳥羽法皇の近臣であり、滋子も法皇の娘・統子内親王（後白河上皇の同母姉）に女房として仕えた。