The name Kunimasa appears across several distinct lineages in the Japanese sword tradition. The most celebrated is Kunimasa of the late period, variously recorded as a student or son of Kunitoshi and elder brother of Kunitomo. Signed works are exceedingly rare, comprising only a small number of , , and . Among the shorter blades, certain examples carry a flavor that approaches the manner of the Hasebe group, suggesting a smith who absorbed influences beyond the orthodox idiom. A separate Kunimasa, the second generation of the Naomune line in the tradition, is documented through an equally scarce body of signed work. In the period, the name resurfaces prominently in the Hojoji group, a collective of smiths centered on the and Enpo eras that produced numerous capable makers, with Kunimasa ranking alongside Masahiro and Sadakuni.
The designated works reveal a consistent technical vocabulary across the Hojoji Kunimasa pieces: tightly forged with thick , fine , and a luminous steel surface. The typically begins with a -toned before developing into intermingled , , and -, at times assuming a -like rhythm. Thick enter strongly, and the is notably robust, yielding abundant including , , , and . The Kunimasa attributions favor a -based temper with and , bright , and exceptionally fine producing a luminous characteristic of the school's highest standard.
The rarity of signed examples across all lineages bearing this name lends each designated work considerable documentary value. The Hojoji pieces demonstrate that even at imposing dimensions the forge work sustains its integrity, while the attributions preserve a refined, -rich brilliance that places them among the finest expressions of the Yamashiro tradition.
