Kanetsugu is recorded in sword reference works as the son of the first-generation Kanenaga, whose activity is transmitted as reaching back to around the Shoo era of the late period. The school, also written Tenga, takes its name from a community of smiths who resided and forged swords in the vicinity outside the Gate opposite the western front of Todaiji, and is regarded as a group subordinate to that great temple. Among the Five Schools of Yamato, the school was the largest in scale, flourishing from the late period through the and into the period. Extant works by Kanetsugu bearing date inscriptions are known from such eras as Bunpo, Gentoku, Genko, and Kenmu, spanning from 1317 to the 1330s, though signed by his hand are extremely few.
Kanetsugu's forging displays closely worked mixed with and, at times, a -inclined tendency, with extremely fine densely adhering and fine appearing throughout. A faint -- in some works a -- is characteristically observed. The is fundamentally in tone, occasionally mixed with small or shallow , with a that exhibits a tight tendency and is described as bright. Fine adheres well along the edge, accompanied by delicate -, , and . The typically runs straight, finishing in or with a short turnback. In all respects the distinctive characteristics of Yamato workmanship are clearly observed in his productions.
Kanetsugu's surviving works constitute exceptionally precious reference material, as the repeatedly emphasizes. His , signed pieces bearing date inscriptions -- among the earliest documented from the lineage -- are deemed "of the utmost value as documentary material." The workmanship is consistently judged superior, with the preservation of both and described as exceptionally good. In the assessment of the Society, these blades clearly manifest the characteristic features of late- craftsmanship, affirming the transmitted tradition and securing Kanetsugu's position as a principal figure in the earliest generation of this venerable Yamato school.