Following the Meiji restoration, the city of Tokushima was established on October 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

Tokushima was selected as a target by the United States' XXI Bomber Command during World War II because of the city's role as an agricultural center for the region.

Tokushima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 30 members.

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

It has a deep connection with the Kansai region especially Osaka, which has become even more prominent in modern times after the opening of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.

Although the city area was burnt to the ground due to the Tokushima air raid in World War II, it was quickly reconstructed.

The Tokushima Plain in the Yoshino and Katsuura river basins have fertile agricultural land, and in addition to rice, some items such as cauliflower and carrots are major local products.