Saburō Kaneuji is traditionally identified as the smith Kanetsugu of the Yamato tradition who, after studying under Masamune of and attaining full maturity, relocated to in Province, changed his name to Kaneuji, and forged swords there — thus acquiring the epithet " Saburō Kaneuji," commonly abbreviated simply to "." From early times he has been counted among the Masamune Jittetsu (Ten Great Disciples of Masamune), and among them he is regarded as one of the smiths whose style stands closest to that of Masamune himself. No dated inscriptions by Kaneuji are extant, but a date of Kōʼō 1 (1350) on a blade by his transmitted student Kanetsugu permits the inference that his period of activity extended from the end of the period into the early period. It can further be surmised that exchange between smiths and those of Yamato was frequent, and that this had a substantial impact on the stylistic formation of workmanship. It is precisely in the way Sōshū-den elements are added to a foundation that his personal manner is found.
The distinguishing hallmarks of 's work are consistently identified across evaluations. The is mixed with and , frequently showing a tendency toward — a conspicuous within the grain that sets his forging apart from other Sōshū-den smiths. Fine adheres thickly, and enter with great frequency, producing a steel described as bright, clear, and possessed of a sense of transparency. The , based on mixed with and , is a defining characteristic: pointed forms within the become conspicuous, and in places the runs in a linked sequence. Along the appear , , and , while and work repeatedly to yield the subtle fascination of breakdown. The is thickly applied, bright and clear, at times concentrating and at times breaking down to produce abundant variation. The characteristically turns back in a rounded manner — typically — with vigorous , at times forming a flame-like () appearance.
The consistently places among the highest echelon of the tradition. His finest works are described as displaying "a realm of workmanship that recalls the upper ranks of masters," while the sparkling, lustrous is identified as characteristic of "a superior level of Sōshū-den." Evaluations recurrently note that both and show "a graceful and excellent workmanship" and that the is "bright and clear" — the term appearing as a consistent marker of quality. Works attributed to are praised for their dynamism and force, and superior examples are recognized as blades "worthy of admiration" that compellingly demonstrate the presence of pieces "brimming with a sense of dynamism" among attributions. The soundness and preservation () of surviving examples is frequently noted alongside their excellence of workmanship (shūsaku, yūhin), affirming Kaneuji's enduring position as the foremost inheritor of Masamune's art.