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More than one million people live in Kitakyushu , distributed among its five wards: Kokura, Shin-Moji, Tobata, Wakamatsu and Yawata (or Yahata).
The wards date back to ancient Japanese history but Kitakyushu was established only in 1963. Kokura houses shrines and buildings built in as early as the 1600's. In World War II, a large arms factory was operated in Kokura. This made it the original target of an atomic bomb though the plan was later changed and Nagasaki was chosen instead.
Kokura is incidentally the largest ward in Kitakyushu and boasts of attractions for the curious traveler. It is the city's financial and commercial hub, and hosts the administrative and political offices. Most of the major hotels in the district are also in Kokura, as well as the ferries to the Shikoku district. The main ferry terminal, however, is in Shin-Moji.
Kitakyushu is bordered on one side by the Shimonoseki Strait. Above this strait that is less than one kilometer wide suspension bridges and underneath are tunnels to connect Shimonoseki to Kitakyushu .
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