The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (in Japanese: Monbukagakusho, English acronym: MEXT) offers scholarships to Canadian students wishing to pursue their studies at a Japanese university.
The scholarship covers:
1. Full tuition
2. Monthly allowance
3. Round-trip flight between Japan and Canada

The new application window for the 2018 cycle for the MEXT Research Studies and MEXT Undergraduate Studies Scholarships is now open.

Application for the MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship for 2017 is NOW CLOSED.
The new application window for the 2018 cycle is expected to open in December 2017.

Applications must be sent to the Japanese diplomatic mission nearest you. For detailed information, please contact the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa or the Consulate General of Japan nearest you in Vancouver, Calgary , Toronto, and Montreal.

If you reside in Ontario/Toronto/GTA area, send applications and related documents to:
MEXT Scholarship Programmes Section
CONSULATE-GENERAL OF JAPAN-Toronto
Suite 3300, 77 King Street West
P.O. Box 10, TD Centre
Toronto, ON M5K 1A1

Other Resources: Before beginning the application process, please review the websites below for information on studying in Japan, and information on Japanese universities.
PRINTABLE PAMPHLET ON THE MONBUKAGAKUSHO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2013 (PDF)

JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization): http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/
Gateway to Study in Japan: http://www.g-studyinjapan.jasso.go.jp/en/

University Degree Courses Offered in English: English Degree Courses (Bachelor, Master & Doctor) http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2017/04/13/degree_english_20170417.pdf

School Search link: Search for schools (graduate schools, universities and junior colleges)
http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/index.html
http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/daigakukensaku.html#no7

"Student Guide to Japan" is an essential book for international students planning to study in Japan.
http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/sgtj.html

Samples of previous exams: Qualifying Examinations for Applicants for Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarships 2015 - Examination Questions
http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e-32.html

Below are the three categories of scholarships available for Canadian students.

RESEARCH STUDIES

Currently Open for Application Yes
Duration:                             2 years, beginning in April 2018 or 18 months, beginning in October 2018
Extension may be possible if you proceed to a further degree program.

Outline of eligibility
Degree:                                Bachelor’s degree or higher
Age:                                       born on or after April 2, 1983 (for the 2018 recruitment)
Study area:                         the same field that the applicant has studied, or a related field
Citizenship:                        Canadian
Departure date:               April or October 2018
Placement at University:             Designated by MEXT, based on your admission or a letter of provisional acceptance you obtain from Japanese universities.

Application deadline:    Friday, May 19, 2017
(Early submission of application documents is highly recommended so that any necessary corrections or omissions to the application can be remedied ahead of the Friday, May 19, 2017 application deadline in the case of improperly filled forms or incomplete application packages).

Selection process
1. Documents review
2. Examination (Japanese and English) and Interview : late June-July
3. 1st screening notification: mid July
4. Obtain admissions or letters of provisional acceptance
5. 2nd screening notification : December
6. Acceptance notification : Following February-March

Complete instruction
Please see Application Guidelines and Document Checklist.
Carefully check required documents for the application described in the Application Guidelines.
Incomplete or improperly completed documents may result in disqualification.

Application forms downloads
1. Application Form (Excel)
2. Field of Study and Study Program (Word)
3. Recommendation Form (Word)
4. Certificate of Health (Excel)
5. Placement Preference Form (Excel) (The Attachment is to be submitted only after the candidate has passed the first stage of the selection process.)
6. Letter of Acceptance (Word) (The Letter of Acceptance is to be submitted only after the candidate has passed the first stage of the selection process.)

For reference only, following are the Qualifying Examinations for applicants for the 2015 Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarships: http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e-32.html

 

UNDERGRADUATE

Currently Open for Application Yes
Duration:                             5 years, beginning in April 2018
For those majoring in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or a six-year course in pharmacy, the term of the scholarship is 7 years. (The first year is language training.)

Outline of eligibility
Education:                          high school diploma or higher
Age:                                       born between April 2, 1996 and April 1, 2001 (for the 2018 recruitment)
Citizenship:                        Canadian
Departure date:               April 2018
Placement at University: Designated by MEXT, based on your fields and subjects choices

Application deadline:    Friday, June 9, 2017
(Early submission of application documents is highly recommended so that any necessary corrections or omissions to the application can be remedied ahead of the Friday, June 9, 2017 application deadline in the case of improperly filled forms or incomplete application packages).

Selection process
1. Documents review
2. Examination (Japanese, English, Mathematics and Science*)  and Interview : late June-July
*Only for applicants who choose Natural Science field
3. Acceptance notification : December-Following January

Complete instruction
Please see Application Guideline and Document Checklist.
Carefully check required documents for the application described in the Application Guidelines.

Application forms downloads
1. Application Form (Excel)
2. Preferred Field of Study Form (part of the Application Form)(Excel)
3. Recommendation Form (Word) 
4. Certificate of Health (Excel)
5. Placement Preference Form (Excel)
(Only applicants who wish to be directly placed at a university need to submit this form)
For reference only, following are the Qualifying Examinations for applicants for the 2015 Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship (Regarding the Japanese language examination, please refer to the exam that is listed under Research Students): http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e-32.html

JAPANESE STUDIES          

Currently Open for Application: No (Information of the last recruitment is shown as follows for your reference.)

Duration:                             1 year, beginning in October 2017.

Outline of eligibility:     Education:  must be an undergraduate student at a non-Japanese university majoring in fields related to the Japanese language or culture.
Age:                       born between April 2, 1987 and April 1, 1999 (for the 2017 academic year).
Citizenship:        Canadian
Departure date October 2017
Placement at University                Designated by MEXT, taking into account your placement preference.

Application deadline:    was March 3, 2017

Selection process
1. Documents review
2. Examination (Japanese) and Interview : Early-mid March
3. Acceptance notification: July

Complete instruction
Please see Application Guideline and Document Checklist.
Carefully check required documents for the application described in the Application Guidelines.

Application forms downloads
1. Application Forms
2. Certificate of Health 

Reference:         Please refer to “Course Guide for Japanese Studies Students” to consider your placement preference

FAQ

Q: What should I do to begin applying to the program?
A: First of all, decide which level is the most appropriate for you—Undergraduate, Japanese Studies or Research Studies. Secondly, decide on a major field of study, which is like declaring your major for undergraduate study in Canada.  Major fields of study may include subjects in the areas of Social Sciences, Humanities or Natural Sciences. For example, one major field of study might be Computer Science Research in Artificial Intelligence, which falls under the Natural Sciences category.

Q: For Research Studies, how can I choose which university to apply to in Japan?
A: Ask your professors if they can suggest universities to apply to in Japan. If your professor or past professors are not able to assist you in deciding where to go, you may go to the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) website (www.jasso.go.jp) where they have a search engine of all the universities in Japan. The search engine can help you find a university which offers the program of study you wish to pursue.

Q: When does the academic year begin and end in universities in Japan?
A: The academic year in universities in Japan begins in April and ends in March of the following year. In most cases, the year is divided into two semesters, the first lasting from April to September and the second from October to March.   

Q: I am a Canadian student currently studying outside of Canada. How do I apply and do I have to return to Canada for the interview and necessary testing?
A: You must obtain the application forms from the Embassy website and submit them to either the Embassy or Consulate General which is closest to your home city. Yes, you must return to Canada for the interview and testing. There will be no exceptions made.

Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
For more information on research institutions, education opportunities, etc., please visit the Web Japan information site.

If you do not have Adobe Reader, required to open the pdf files, it is available for free.
Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto
Suite 3300, 77 King St. W, Toronto
Tel: 416-363-7038
Fax: 416-367-9392
E-mail: access@to.mofa.go.jp