Under which Shogunate was Japan noted for being the most centralized?

The Tokugawa Shogunate is recognized for creating a highly centralized system of governance that significantly transformed Japan. Established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, this shogunate implemented a policy called "Sankin-kotai," which required feudal lords, or daimyo, to alternate their residence between their domains and the capital, Edo (modern-day Tokyo). This practice not only weakened the power of the daimyo by keeping their families in Edo as hostages but also facilitated tighter control over the entire country by the shogunate.

Under the Tokugawa era, a rigid social hierarchy was established, and the governance was characterized by stability and peace, known as the Edo period. The centralization promoted economic growth, with increased trade and merchant activities, alongside the suppression of internal conflicts that had characterized earlier periods. This allowed the shogunate to enforce laws uniformly and cultivate a national identity that had not been as prevalent under previous regimes.

In contrast, during the Kamakura and Ashikaga Shogunates, power was more decentralized, largely influenced by the feudal lords who maintained significant autonomy. The Yamato dynasty, on the other hand, refers to the imperial family and does not denote a sh