Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto has been diagnosed with rectal cancer, more than six years after he was diagnosed with throat cancer.

In an announcement made in English, Japanese and Chinese on his website and social-media account on Jan 21, the award-winning musician said: "I was relieved after the throat cancer that I had in 2014 went into remission after six years. However, unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with cancer again - this time, rectal cancer."