In 1680 Tokugawa Tsunayoshi became the 5th shogun. Unlike his precedessor, the passive Ietsuna, he governed by his own wit. He presided over urban flourishing of Genroku period, and installed advisors who were outsiders to the entrenched bureaucracy.

Tsunayoshi aspired to be a Confucian scholar/sage/ruler; he added ceremonies to calendar, built a Confucian shrine and study center in Yushima (Edo). He also supported Buddhism, allotting 200,000-ryoo of rice for the temples Gokoku-ji, Kan'ei-ji.

He emitted regulations designed to mitigate samurai violence and to cultivate compassion, made shelters for the needy, etc. But in the 1680s the government reserves were gone; so he had to tax more, and to spend less. Thus there was a flood of sumptuary regulations, picking up where Iemitsu left off. In 1685 a final attempt by the Portuguese to re-establish relations with Japan resulted in failure.

In 1687 Tsunayoshi issued a series of unpopular edicts prohibiting the killing or abandonment of animals, particularly dogs, upon the pain of death. All dogs were to be addressed as O-inu-sama ("Sir Dog"). This caused him to lose popularity; he enacted this law after being told he was childless because he was born in year of Dog. Therefore, afraid of hurting their dogs, people let them loose: 48,700 strays were given shelter on his orders...

In 1701-02 occurred the incident of the 47 Ronin. In 1705 Tsunayoshi dissolved Yodoya merchant house, taking all its wealth. His bold initiatives countered economic turmoil.

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