TOKYO — A petition protesting unconfirmed news reports of moving the U.S. Army’s I Corps headquarters to Camp Zama, Japan, from the United States was submitted to Japanese government officials Monday, officials said.

A group led by Zama City Mayor Katsuji Hoshino and consisting of Zama City officials and city council members submitted signatures from 59,769 Zama City residents to Japan’s Defense Agency and Foreign Ministry, the city base liaison official said Tuesday.

The group collected signatures from the residents between April 18 and May 9, the official said.

“For the city to be able to collect signatures from almost half the city’s population reflects enthusiasm of the residents,” the official said.