He maintained his political power as ogosho (retired shogun) even after handing control of the shogunate over to Ieshige TOKUGAWA, and he was also called the Rice Shogun (Hachiboku Shogun) because he conducted reforms concentrating on rice prices which were directly connected to public finances.
徳川家重に将軍の座を譲った後も大御所として権力を維持し、財政に直結する米相場を中心に改革を続行していたことから米将軍（八木将軍）と呼ばれていた。