Kunisuke was a swordsmith of the school of Province, traditionally regarded as a son of the school's founder, Taro Kunimura. The lineage traces its origin to Kunimura, who is transmitted as an "outer grandson" of Kuniyuki of Yamashiro. From this group emerged many accomplished smiths -- Kuniyoshi, Kunitoki, Kunitai, Kunitomo, Kuninobu, Kunitsuna, and others -- and the school flourished greatly at Kumafu in Kikuchi District from the end of the period into the era. Among Kunisuke's works bearing dated inscriptions is a from Karyaku 2 (1327), establishing his activity firmly in the late period, though sword reference books further state that the name continued in use by successive generations into the period. A survey of extant works indicates that, even within the lineage, he was a smith of considerable ability.
In workmanship, the school displays comparatively few strongly individualized traits from maker to maker, and their style in general resembles that of the school of Yamashiro. Certain points of distinction, however, are cited as characteristic features of the group: in the forging, flowing is mixed into the , and the steel tends toward a whitish cast with a faint ; the of the shows a somewhat tendency, giving the internal activities within the tempered area a calmer feeling; and the often presents a slightly larger roundness at the tip with a shallow , frequently accompanied by . Kunisuke's work, centered on mixed with and , adheres to these school conventions while achieving a notably refined execution. His finest pieces display tightly forged with thickly applied fine and well-entering , producing a bright with fine and that impart an engaging scenic effect. In certain works the temper departs from the restrained manner typical of the school, instead adopting a construction more commonly found in -- a point the regards as especially noteworthy. His signature is likewise distinctive: the spacing between characters is tight, and among the smiths of the group it is cut with the boldest, thickest chisel strokes. Additionally, whereas many craftsmen of the lineage cut the right side within the enclosure of the character "" in a pronounced "ear-shaped" manner, this tendency is not conspicuous in Kunisuke's hand.
The consistently identifies Kunisuke as among the more highly capable smiths within the lineage, and his best works are described as superior examples that are in both and . That certain of his blades at first glance can resemble work by Kunimitsu is taken as corroboration of the tradition that the founder was a disciple of the house. His output encompasses a notable range of forms -- from orthodox and to converted and broad, large-scale with deeply hardened, flame-like "without parallel even among this smith's own work and within the school." Several characterize his blades as valuable source material for understanding the working range of the group, and the survival of signed examples bearing his distinctive thick-chiseled is regarded as precious. In both technical accomplishment and historical significance, Kunisuke occupies a position of distinction within the tradition.