Born in 1975 in Saitama Prefecture, Etsuji Noguchi moved to Tanegashima, Kagoshima in 1999, drawn by the region's Yakishime pottery tradition. There he learned the complete cycle of ceramic making, from mining clay to firing in traditional kilns. In 2006, he apprenticed under master ceramicist Takashi Nakazato in Karatsu, before taking his practice to Italy, the U.S., and Denmark, where he built a wood kiln for KH Würtz, the studio behind ceramics for Noma and other renowned restaurants.

Noguchi's work features surfaces rich with iron-oxide patina and rust-red tones that evoke natural landscapes. Through use, the pieces develop a gentle sheen. He describes his aesthetic as "calm and powerful, primitive and modern," creating vessels that belong to no specific era or place, vessels that quietly enhance what they hold without demanding attention.