Kagenaga is traditionally said to have been a disciple of Yoshimasa of the Kuritaguchi group in Yamashiro Province and is commonly referred to as the "Inaba kokaji." In the , the first generation is recorded under the Kagen era (1303-1306), and the second generation under the Kenmu era; thereafter, several smiths using the name continued from the late period through the period. Among works dated to the Oei era (1394-1428), there are also examples signed "Senni-hara ju," indicating a possible secondary residence. Extant signed works are known in , , and spear, though they are extremely rare, and dated examples are exceptionally scarce, with only a handful of Oei-era inscriptions surviving.
The manner of the Kagenaga line is characterized by a particular strength in of the Yamashiro tradition. The is often somewhat soft in character and shows a slightly whitish tendency, which is considered a point of interest. Forging typically presents a tightly worked with admixtures of , while fine adheres and appear; on certain works a faint, whitish stands. The is predominantly a narrow in which adheres well and the shows a tight, subdued tendency. Though small in scale, diverse varieties of may be intermingled, with , -like and uchi-noke-like effects, , and occasional imparting a strong sense of dynamism. Entering the period, beyond the traditional , one also encounters and , with the tending toward a tightened appearance. The is generally straight, forming or , at times with at the pointed tip.
The recognizes the Kagenaga smiths as orthodox practitioners whose works "clearly express this smith's particular traits" through the restrained authority of their temper and the distinctive whitish quality of their steel. Their dated works are repeatedly singled out for "exceptionally high documentary value," and surviving spear examples are noted as "almost without parallel." Despite the modest scale of their tempering, the abundance of internal activities is praised for conveying an unexpectedly rich visual interest. The finest Oei-period pieces are characterized as works of "excellent workmanship" that clearly demonstrate the style of Kagenaga in the early period, serving as "precious reference material" for the study of this scarce but historically significant Inaba provincial lineage.