A four-time All-Star and a two-time Best Nine Award-winner, Noguchi was the eldest of four brothers who played professional baseball in Japan.

[citation needed] Noguchi began his professional career in 1936 with the Japanese Baseball League (JBL), as an 18-year-old with the Tokyo Senators.

Other notable Japanese pitchers who have worn number 18 since Akira Noguchi (even carrying the tradition over to Major League Baseball) include Tsuneo Horiuchi, Masumi Kuwata, Yu Darvish, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Tsuyoshi Wada.

As a member of the Braves in 1947, Akira became the first person in Japanese pro baseball to hit an inside-the-park grand slam.

[citation needed] Leaving the Braves after the 1948 season, Akira joined the Chunichi Dragons, the franchise where he would have his greatest success, as a catcher.