Home province Mutsu Current head Sōma Kazutane Dissolution still extant | Founder Sōma Morotsune Founding year 12th century Cadet branches Shimōsa Sōma | |
The Sōma clan (相馬氏) was a Japanese clan of Mutsu Province which was famous for its actions during the 16th century Sengoku Period.
Claiming descent from Taira Masakado, the family was politically important from the early Nanbokucho Period on, especially as supporters of Ashikaga Takauji. Due to this connection to the man who became the first Ashikaga shogun, they became powerful fairly quickly, and by the Sengoku Period were a focal point of regional authority in southern Mutsu, northern Hamadōri of present day.
The first daimyō of Nakamura castle, Sōma was Yoshitane's son, Sōma Toshitane.
In the Boshin War, during the reign of the daimyō Tomotane, the Sōma clan were signatories to the pact that formed the Ōuetsu Reppan Domei.
As the blood of the clan is still very strong in the population of its ancient domain, further strengthened by the Sōma Nomaoi festival, they continue to exist informally, as many other Japanese clans. It is the inheritor of their Overlords, Sōma Kazutane, 33rd head of Sōma clan, who still presides over the festival, although his eldest son, Sōma Michitane, acted as Samurai Sōtaishō (commander in chief) in 2011. In this both religious festival and military training, hundreds of descendants of Sōma hanshi (warriors of Sōma feudal domain), wearing armor and riding horses, show their skills. The Sōma Nomaoi has its roots around 937 AD. It also seems to be linked to Myōken (Bosatsu ?) as the Ujigami of the Sōma clan, and thus with Amenominakanushi no kami.