She was born around 1542 at Kotani-jo Castle as the second daughter to Hisamasa AZAI, the family head of the Azai clan who snatched away power from the Kyogoku clan to rule the Omi Province, and as the older sister to Nagamasa AZAI.
天文(元号)11年（1542年）頃、近江国の支配権を京極氏より奪った浅井氏の当主浅井久政の次女、浅井長政の姉として小谷城で生まれる。