Kanenaga is regarded as the founder of the school, one of the five major groups of Yamato swordsmiths. The lineage takes its name from the Gate (), the western main gate of Todaiji, outside which the smiths are said to have resided and forged swords, maintaining close ties with that great temple. Sword reference works place Kanenaga's period of activity around the Shoo era (1288-1293) in the late period, though the workmanship of certain blades suggests his activity may extend further back in time. The name was inherited by successive generations who continued forging through the period and into the period; among later-generation works there exists a dated example from Joji 6 (1367). A work by Kanekiyo, transmitted as either the son or student of the second-generation Kanenaga, bears a date of Karyaku 4 (1329), a point that invites further consideration regarding the school's chronology. Signed by Kanenaga survive in comparatively large numbers, though examples remaining in their original, unaltered state are exceedingly few.
Kanenaga's construction is characteristic of Yamato work, with a high and broad . The is typically mixed with and , forged tightly, with fine adhering thickly and frequent ; in some works stands out, and the steel shows notable clarity. The is grounded in bearing a shallow tendency, into which and may be mixed; along the appear , , , and uchi-noke, accompanied by and . Among signed works of the Yamato Five Schools, Kanenaga's blades display the strongest ; the rounded, beautifully glittering that sparkles throughout both and is a defining feature, and it is this lustrous quality that can rival the finest masters of . The characteristically shows vigorous and tends toward . Two broad categories of are observed: works of comparatively subdued, low-tempered construction with a quiet manner, and more varied, higher-tempered works in which the differs between and , as exemplified by the celebrated "Kotekashiwa Kanenaga."
The hallmark most consistently noted across assessments is that both and appear bright and -- clear and vivid -- a quality that distinguishes Kanenaga from other Yamato smiths and elevates unsigned works above ordinary attributions. Where a typical blade shows the school's general character, a Kanenaga attribution is supported by conspicuously deep , especially thick and radiant , and an abundance of internal activities within the temper. Many examples display a dignified and lofty bearing in their overall form, and the combined tonal complexion of and is frequently described as extremely fine. As founder of the lineage and foremost among its smiths, Kanenaga holds a position of central importance within the Yamato tradition.