Kitakyushu (北九州市 Kitakyūshū-shi, lit. "North Kyushu City") is one of two designated cities in Fukuoka Prefecture with a population of just under one million. The city of Kitakyushu was founded on February 10, 1963 and was designated on April 1, 1963 by government ordinance. The city was born from the merger of five municipalities (Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata and Wakamatsu) centered around the ancient feudal city of Kokura.