Yoshifusa was a principal master of the Fukuoka school in Province, active during the mid- period. Together with Sukezane and Norifusa, he formed the triumvirate of smiths who brought the school to its zenith, collectively developing the magnificent and sumptuous style of large-pattern - for which Fukuoka is celebrated. A comparatively large number of signed works survive, and it is known that several distinct styles of signature () can be observed among them. Because his workmanship ranges from brilliantly flamboyant interpretations to markedly calmer constructions tending toward mixed with and , scholarship has long considered the possibility that multiple smiths worked under the name. That five of his works hold National Treasure designation—including transmitted in the Oshima Shimazu and Saijo Matsudaira families—attests to the extraordinary esteem in which his art has been held across centuries.
Yoshifusa's characteristic forging shows mixed with , often with a tendency toward standing grain (), upon which fine and form and vivid rises distinctly. His most representative is a bold incorporating -, , and , with pronounced height variation yielding a spectacular, florid temper line. The activity within both and is rich: and enter vigorously, while and run through the tempered zone. The is characteristically bright and clear. Yet his range extends well beyond this flamboyant mode. Certain works display a restrained, archaic sensibility—small-pattern based on with , evoking the spirit of and Ko-. Others exhibit conspicuously strong activity, with coarse approaching a character, demonstrating a breadth of temperament that sets Yoshifusa apart from his peers. His forms typically show high with , abundant , and a dignified mid- profile, though at least two works present an exceptional broad-bodied construction with , likely produced to special commission.
Yoshifusa occupies a position of singular importance within the tradition and the broader history of the Japanese sword. His oeuvre constitutes an invaluable body of reference material precisely because it encompasses such breadth—from the most gorgeously ornate expression of the Fukuoka idiom to quiet, understated work that reveals deep roots in earlier craftsmanship. Distinguished provenances including the Mori lords of Chofu, the Satake lords of Akita, and the Hitotsubashi Tokugawa house confirm that his blades were prized among the foremost warrior families. The -—elongated clove forms with minimal waist constriction—is widely regarded as a distinguishing hallmark of this smith, and its presence has historically served as a key criterion in attributing unsigned works. Yoshifusa's technical mastery, the documentary value of his varied signature styles, and the consistently excellent preservation of his surviving works together secure his standing as one of the supreme representatives of mid- swordsmithing.