Overseas students can apply for a range of publicly or privately funded scholarships. Information about the conditions required for each scholarship is best found at the Association of International Education of Japan homepage.
 

Japanese government scholarships (Monbukagakusho)

1) Recommendation by Japanese Embassy
The Japanese Government through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho) requests its overseas diplomatic establishments to advertise study in Japan on a Japanese government scholarship and to conduct the preliminary selection of candidates. This preliminary selection consists of (1) selection based on submitted academic records and personal history, (2) a written examination and (3) an interview. The Japanese diplomatic establishment then recommend candidates for scholarships based on the results of the above selection process to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology which makes the final decision. 

Specifications of each scholarship, conditions of eligibility, allowance and other detials can be found here. 
For further information, contact your nearest Japanese diplomatic establishment.

2) Recommendation by Chiba University
Pursuant to exchange agreements or similar agreements concluded between Chiba University and foreign universities/colleges, Chiba University may recommend to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology the provision of a Japanese government scholarship to those foreign students admitted to postgraduate courses who show exceptional academic ability and who are considered in need of financial assistance. The final decision is made by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
 

Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarships for privately financed international students

Through universities, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology offers Honors Scholarships for privately financed international students who display excellence in their academic work and character and who are recognized to be in need of economic assistance during their stay in Japan. These scholarships are provided for enrolled students and the number of scholarships is limited.
 

AIEJ Short-term Student Exchange Promotion Program (inbound) Scholarship

This is a scholarship provided for exchange students who are enrolled in an overseas sister university, sent from it under a student exchange agreement and study at a sister university in Japan for six to twelve months. Chiba University sends application forms together with application materials for Chiba University short-term student exchange and J-PAC to its sister universities.
 

Private scholarships

Some private organizations provide scholarships for self-supported foreign students who are already engaged in study in Japan. Chiba University is notified of some 40 scholarship schemes every year, however there are limits to the number of students we can accept.