A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from a copy of the forum saved in October 2015, so pages it didn't save are missing. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
A player, 14 March 2012
Just making 100% sure before the Vegas Kotei this weekend:
Can Akodo Ashiko's ability be used to bring her into play at a battle where no player controls a unit?
Akodo Ashiko game text: "Battle: If Ashiko is face-up in one of your provinces: Bring her into play at the current battlefield, paying all costs, and reducing her Gold cost by 2 if there are more units on the enemy side than on your side."
Rule of Presence exception: "EXCEPTION: A player who controls no units at the current battlefield may take a Battle Action whose costs or effects say they are able to move, create, or bring into play one or more of his units there. This includes effects that depend on a random effect such as a card draw. The player must then make choices within the action, if possible, such that it does put one or more of his units there, fulfilling Presence."
Alex Jones (rules official), 14 March 2012
Just making 100% sure before the Vegas Kotei this weekend:
Can Akodo Ashiko's ability be used to bring her into play at a battle where no player controls a unit?
Akodo Ashiko game text: "Battle: If Ashiko is face-up in one of your provinces: Bring her into play at the current battlefield, paying all costs, and reducing her Gold cost by 2 if there are more units on the enemy side than on your side."
Rule of Presence exception: "EXCEPTION: A player who controls no units at the current battlefield may take a Battle Action whose costs or effects say they are able to move, create, or bring into play one or more of his units there. This includes effects that depend on a random effect such as a card draw. The player must then make choices within the action, if possible, such that it does put one or more of his units there, fulfilling Presence."
Yes, for the reason I've highlighted in your post.