Even though he has an image of being a spineless coward, because he "ran away in the face of his enemy" during the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, there has recently been a focus on his attempt at constructing a new, modern political system after Taisei Hokan, and there is a movement to re-evaluate his contributions including airing of "TOKUGAWA Yoshinobu" (an NHK Taiga Drama).
鳥羽伏見の戦いにおける「敵前逃亡」などで惰弱なイメージがあったが、大政奉還後に新たな近代的政治体制を築こうとしたことなどが近年クローズアップされ、加えて徳川慶喜(NHK大河ドラマ)の放送などもあり、再評価する動きもある。