There is the accusation as well that his establishment of a completely centralized feudal control system, in which, with the Tokugawa shogun family placed as the absolute monarch, even the emperor family in addition to the Imperial court as well as daimyo, temples and shrines throughout the nation were placed under its control virtually and closed diplomatic policies were taken, was a factor that delayed modernization of Japan.
徳川将軍家を絶対君主制とする、全国の諸大名をはじめ寺社勢力、朝廷そして天皇家までも実質支配下に置き、さらには外交面でも閉鎖的な徹底した中央集権的封建支配体制を築き上げたことは日本の近代化を遅れさせる一因となったという非難の声もある。