Per the Hizen Koku Fudoki, during the Kofun period the area was ruled by several powerful clans, which were defeated by Emperor Keiko.

Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Chitose, Hasuike, Kanzaki, Niiyama, Saigō, Sakaino, Sefuri and Shirota were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

Kanzaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Saga 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

JR Kyushu - Nagasaki Main Line Media related to Kanzaki, Saga at Wikimedia Commons