Japanese painting
Fujimura graduated "cum laude" from Bucknell University in 1983 with a double major in animal behavior and art and a minor in creative writing. Fujimura went on to study traditional Japanese painting at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1989. He was invited back to the Tokyo University of the Arts to continue his education in a lineage doctoral-level program in "Nihonga", an ancient Japanese painting style. He was the first non-Japanese citizen to be accepted in the Japanese painting doctorate program, which dates back to the 15th century.