Norishige is famous as one of the Ten Great Pupils of Masamune (Masamune Jutetsu).

He produced principally tanto. One characteristic of the steel surface on his blades is a grain said to resemble the bark of a pine tree (matsukawa-hada). This tanto displays a slight uchizori (reverse curvature near the point) typical of certain Soshu smiths and Norishige in particular, together with a long point (kissaki). This has produced a shape known as takenokozori because it resembles the curves of a bamboo shoot.

The National Treasure tanto, known as Nippon'ichi (Number One of Japan), a prized blade of the late Marquis Hosokawa and now in the Eisei Bunko Foundation is extremely similar to this blade in its shape, forging and tempering. Both blades display a similar takenokozori shape and matsukawa-hada. Although the Nippon'ichi hamon is slightly wider, it bears the same configurations with active nie.

Norishige is known to have used three styles of signature: a rather forceful mei using wide strokes (as in this present example and the Nippon'ichi); another large signature using lighter, more delicate strokes; and a small signature using relatively thin strokes.