Norikuni, known by the title Tōma no Jō, was the son of Kunitomo and is traditionally placed in the Katei era (1235–1238) of the early period. He worked in Yamashiro Province as part of the celebrated school, one of the most refined lineages of the Yamashiro tradition. Historical sources also record that he served as a provincial guard-smith () in Oki. His son, Sahyōe no Jō Kuniyoshi, carried forward the family tradition, and a notable calligraphic continuity has been observed between father and son: the character "" (国) in Norikuni's signatures closely resembles the form used by Kuniyoshi. Authenticated signed works by Norikuni are exceedingly rare in both and , lending each surviving example considerable documentary weight. Several extant pieces bear distinguished provenance, including transmission through the Kuroda family and an imperial gift tradition linking one to Emperor Go-Daigo and the loyalist commander Kitabatake Akiie.
Norikuni's forging is among the most refined of the group. His typically presents a tightly compacted with very fine, thickly applied that produces the lustrous, moist surface quality known as uruoi — sometimes described as a pear-skin () texture. Fine appear throughout the ground, and on certain a faint effect is discernible. His is characteristically a -based temper, ranging from a calm, medium-width straight line to compositions that incorporate shallow , , and in restrained admixture. The is bright and clear, with well-adhering , and activity such as , , and occasional enlivens the hardened edge without disrupting its fundamental composure. The consistently returns in , sometimes with slight , conveying quiet dignity. A distinctive workshop habit appears in his : carvings placed close to the ridge with narrow spacing, a trait shared with Kuniyoshi and Yoshimitsu that serves as a reliable indicator of group attribution. On , a thin carved kaki-nagashi — traditionally called a wasure-bi or "forgotten groove" — is another characteristic feature of -period work from this lineage.
Norikuni occupies a pivotal position within the succession, bridging the foundational work of Kunitomo and the celebrated achievements of Kuniyoshi and Yoshimitsu. His blades embody the essential aesthetic: an emphasis on superlative steel quality and restrained elegance over bold patterning, producing works of profound depth and quiet authority. The extreme rarity of his signed pieces — particularly those retaining — elevates each confirmed example to the status of important documentary material. His , with their standard yet elegant forms and dignified , have drawn praise across centuries of connoisseurship, attracting appraisals as early as the 'ei era. His , with their slender builds, pronounced , , and , preserve the classic grace of early swordmaking at its most refined. Collectively, Norikuni's surviving oeuvre demonstrates both the consistency and the subtle breadth of an artist whose work defines the highest standard of Yamashiro craftsmanship.