The city was named KitakyÅ `` shÅ `` in 1963 , after five cities ( Moji , Kokura , Tobata , Yahata and Wakamatsu ) were made into one . The city of KitakyÅ `` shÅ `` 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 .