Opposition lawmakers and the nation's black community were quick to criticize Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kazuya Maruyama on Thursday after he called U.S. President Barack Obama a "descendant of black slaves," a remark they said bordered on racism and at the very least displayed his ignorance of U.S. history.

"His remark can be regarded as an affront to the U.S. president, and could develop into a serious problem that may affect Japan's diplomatic relationship with America," Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yosuke Kamiyama told the Lower House budget committee, a venue often used to attack the government.

On Thursday, opposition parties including the DPJ, Social Democratic Party and Seikatsu no To (the People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends) submitted a resolution to the Upper House calling for Maruyama, 69, to resign.