Fujita was born in
Aichi Prefecture, where his father, a former
samurai from
Tsugaru Domain, served as a school principal. He attended the 29th class of the
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1901, graduating 15th of 115 cadets. One of his classmates was the future
Prime Minister of Japan Mitsumasa Yonai. Fujita graduated from the
Naval Staff College in 1908, and in December 1911 was assigned to serve on the battleship . In February 1915, during
World War I, Fujita was sent as a
naval attaché to England, and was promoted to commander while still assigned to the Japanese embassy in London in 1916. After his return to Japan in October 1917, he became
executive officer on the battleship for a one-month period in December 1917. Subsequently he held a number of shore assignments to the end of 1920. Fujita attained the rank of captain in December 1920, and received his first command, that of the
protected cruiser . After a number of shore assignments from 1921 to 1924, he was appointed captain of the battleship on December 1, 1924. He was promoted to rear admiral in December 1925 and became Director of the Personnel Department of the Navy Ministry in December 1926. In November 1929, he attained the rank of vice admiral, and took command of the
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. In June 1930, he was Director of Naval Shipbuilding Command. Fujita became Navy Vice-Minister in June 1932, and Commander in Chief of
Kure Naval District in May 1934. In April 1936, he was made a full admiral. He became a naval councilor in December 1936. Fujita was considered for the post of
Minister of the Navy in 1939, but after deliberation and consultation with Admiral
Sankichi Takahashi, he stepped aside in favor of Mitsumasa Yonai and went into the reserves in April 1939. After his retirement, Fujita served as
Chief Priest of
Meiji Shrine until the end of August 1944. He was then appointed
Grand Chamberlain to emperor
Hirohito from August 29, 1944 to May 3, 1946, accompanying the emperor to his meetings with the head of the
American occupation forces, General
Douglas MacArthur. However, due to Fujita’s military background, MacArthur ordered his dismissal in 1946. Fujita died in
Anjō, Aichi on July 23, 1970. ==Naval career==