The language requirements for postgraduate scholarships in Japan are highly dependent on the program's language of instruction (Japanese vs. English) and the scholarship type (MEXT, JASSO, or private). For top universities, strong proficiency in the language of instruction is mandatory.

Major National Scholarship (MEXT)

1. Scholarship Name: Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship (Graduate Level)
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: No formal JLPT score is typically required for the initial application, especially if applying to an English-taught program. However, if you are applying to the "Research Student" track (which is common for MEXT) and your intended lab/supervisor conducts research primarily in Japanese, or if you apply directly to a Japanese-taught program, JLPT N1/N2 proficiency is strongly recommended or required.
4. English Language: Proof of proficiency is required for all applicants. The minimum acceptable scores often include:
5. TOEFL iBT: Around 90 (Some MEXT-YLP programs require a minimum of 79).
6. IELTS Academic: Around 6.5 to 7.0 (Some MEXT-YLP programs require a minimum of 6.0).
7. Waiver: Many universities accept a Certificate of English as Medium of Instruction (MOI) if your previous degree was taught entirely in English.
8. Conditions:
9. MEXT-selected students who are not yet proficient in Japanese will often be required to undergo a six-month intensive Japanese language training upon arrival before enrolling in their graduate program, depending on the embassy/university recommendation route.
10. For the scholarship application, the University Recommendation route usually has stricter language requirements set by the specific university department.

Top National Universities (General Tracks)

1. University Name: The University of Tokyo (UTokyo)
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: JLPT N1 is necessary for most graduate schools where the instruction, seminars, and thesis defense are conducted in Japanese.
4. English Language: Required for admission to all programs, including those taught in Japanese. Standardized test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) are used to evaluate competency, even if there is no official minimum set by the overall School of Engineering, for example.
5. Conditions:
6. Many departments offer English-only tracks (e.g., in Engineering, Science, or Public Policy), where Japanese proficiency is not required for admission or scholarship but is highly encouraged for daily life. Scholarship consideration often happens simultaneously with admission.

1. University Name: Kyoto University
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: JLPT N1 is the expected standard for most traditional graduate schools.
4. English Language: Required for virtually all international applicants. Minimum score expectations for English-taught Master's programs are often high (e.g., IELTS 7.0 or equivalent).
5. Conditions:
6. Kyoto University hosts numerous English-taught programs (e.g., in the Graduate School of Letters, Economics, or Global Studies) that have their own, English-only admission and scholarship criteria. You must meet the English requirement listed by that specific program.

1. University Name: Tohoku University (Future Global Leaders Program)
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Not required for admission to many English-taught graduate programs.
4. English Language: Proficiency is mandatory. For highly competitive programs, target scores are generally higher: IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95+.
5. Conditions:
6. Tohoku is a pioneer of English-taught programs. They offer various university-specific scholarships (e.g., the FGL Scholars program) and tuition waiver schemes tied to academic excellence in the English-taught tracks.

1. University Name: Osaka University
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: JLPT N1/N2 is required for graduate programs taught exclusively in Japanese (e.g., some tracks in Law, Economics).
4. English Language: Required for the numerous English-taught programs (e.g., in Engineering, Science, and Information Technology). Competitive scores are typically IELTS 6.0-6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80-90.
5. Conditions:
6. Osaka University actively promotes MEXT and other scholarship applications through their English-taught programs. Students applying for the scholarship are screened based on their English proficiency and academic record.

1. University Name: Nagoya University
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Required only for Japanese-taught tracks.
4. English Language: For their Global 30 (G30) Master's programs, IELTS/TOEFL scores (or MOI certificate) are mandatory. Target scores: IELTS 6.0/TOEFL iBT 80+.
5. Conditions:
6. The university offers various scholarship opportunities, including the Nagoya University Global 30 Scholarship, which requires only strong academic performance and English proficiency within the G30 program.

1. University Name: Kyushu University
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Required for Japanese tracks.
4. English Language: Required for the diverse English-taught programs. Minimum scores are generally IELTS 6.0-6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80+.
5. Conditions:
6. Kyushu University often recommends top applicants for the MEXT scholarship, and the language proficiency documented in your application must meet the school's high standards.

1. University Name: Hokkaido University
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Required for traditional tracks.
4. English Language: Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) is required for the English-based graduate programs, such as the Integrated Science Program (ISP). IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90+ is competitive.
5. Conditions:
6. Hokkaido University actively recruits international students into its English-taught programs and has various internal and external scholarships available, for which academic merit and the required English score are the main criteria.

1. University Name: Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Not generally required for their International Graduate Program (IGP), which is mostly taught in English.
4. English Language: Mandatory. Competitive scores are high: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90+.
5. Conditions:
6. Tokyo Tech is a highly specialized research institution. Successful scholarship applicants often have extremely strong research proposals and solid English proficiency.

1. University Name: Waseda University (Private)
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Required for Japanese-taught tracks.
4. English Language: Required for international Master's programs. Target scores are often IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100+ for top-tier scholarships like the Waseda University Scholarship for MEXT candidates.
5. Conditions:
6. As a leading private university, Waseda has extensive scholarship schemes, but the competition is intense. High English proficiency is a minimum entry requirement.

1. University Name: Keio University (Private)
2. Requirements:
3. Japanese Language: Required for Japanese-taught tracks.
4. English Language: Mandatory for the Graduate School of Media and Governance (GSM), Graduate School of Economics (GSEC), and other international programs. Competitive scores are typically IELTS 6.5-7.0 or TOEFL iBT 90-100.
5. Conditions:
6. Keio offers several merit-based scholarships and partial tuition waivers for international students, all of which require meeting the graduate school's strict English proficiency standards.