Fujii Shumei was born in Arita, Saga Prefecture in 1936 and started working at the age of 15 at an akae (red glaze) shop and pottery company. He was selected for the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) for the first time in 1937 for his 'Cold Stream', which was subsequently selected 15 times. He won many prizes including one at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, the Minister of Education Prize at the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, and the Japan New Crafts Award at the Japan New Crafts Exhibition. He was a long-term member of Nitten Exhibitions and Saga Art Association.

Fujii developed a unique technique, known as the "tree leaf technique," which has become a hallmark of his style. In this technique, young leaves are pressed onto unglazed ceramic, leaving their veins imprinted on the surface. These veins are then used to depict mountain landscapes, inspired by the natural vistas surrounding Arita, his hometown.