Unji was a swordsmith who resided at Ukan-no-sho in Province, active from the late period into the early period. According to one tradition, he was the son of the first-generation Unsho. Extant dated works by Unji bear inscriptions from the Showa (1312--1317), Bunpo (1317--1319), and Kenmu (1334--1338) eras, making the span of his active career clearly established. Together with Unsho and Unshige, Unji belongs to a group known from their place of residence as the Ukan group (), and because each of these smiths bore the character "" (cloud) in his name, they are collectively referred to as the Unrui (cloud group). The consistently observes that the workmanship of the Unrui differs in certain respects from the contemporary works: within the tradition there appears an admixture of Yamashiro-style traits, and they also show no small degree of influence from the school of neighboring Province. In this sense, they may be regarded as a notably distinctive presence among swords -- an assessment reiterated across virtually every devoted to this smith.
Broadly speaking, the Unrui style can be divided into two manners. One presents a tightly packed with clearly defined - and a -based displaying a tightened . The other shows mixed with in which the grain stands out (), with a reverse-leaning disturbance () mixed into a base, abundant , and a fainter . In either mode, a distinctive mottled -- variously described as , , or stepped resembling a trace left by pressing with a finger -- constitutes a hallmark of the group. Unji's characteristically exhibits (wheel-like curvature), lending a Yamashiro -like flavor, while the somewhat wide and high introduce a Yamato temperament. The is fundamentally , into which are mixed , angular elements, and -flavored portions; and enter freely, with conspicuous -- a feature associated with influence. Shadowy pointed elements within the temper, referred to as the "canine-tooth" pattern (inuba) of the Unrui, serve as a further diagnostic feature. The consistently forms with , turning back shallowly or showing slight . The notes that in comparison with Unsho, Unji's work displays more and related effects along the , and the is felt to be somewhat stronger. Large file marks and signature forms emphasizing (reverse-direction chisel strokes) are habitual traits shared by the entire group.
The 's evaluations consistently describe Unji as a smith of strong individuality even among the products of the time, whose works at their best interweave temperament and Yamashiro elegance into a fundamentally framework. His finest blades are praised for the soft, pliant workings of and within the , the clarity () of the , and the abundance of scenic effects -- , , , and uchi-noke -- along the tempered edge. Several observe that although the tempering is characteristically low, the varies in feeling between the two sides and displays a range of visual effects, with the depth of the carrying an elegant taste. Works in tightly forged are singled out as especially beautiful, and pieces retaining the original curvature despite are noted for their dignified and imposing form. The has described Unji's superior works as blades that "exhibit to the fullest the merits of this group," possessing a "robust, resolute flavor" and representing "an unusually distinguished example" within the Unrui corpus.