When poet Nonoguchi Takamasa visited the area in 1852, he wrote a poem about the general, from which the name "Asahi," which can mean "rising sun," was taken: "from Shinano / adoring the rising sun / he came to the eastern land / and there remains the evidence of his earthly life" In the Edo period, various agricultural changes in the region occurred.

The first was the reclamation of the "Sea of Camellias", a vast lake, which was drained into the Pacific Ocean to create the fertile Higata Hachiman-goku.

In March 2011, the city was greatly affected by 9.0 magnitude earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear disaster.

Chiba Prefecture Asahi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

Asahi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

JR East – Sōbu Main Line The Shiosai Limited Express service stops at Asahi and Iioka stations.