dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə bˈɑːʃɪn wˈɔːɹ ʌv wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ˈeɪt sˈɪksti nˈaɪn, ðə sˈoʊmə klˈæn ɪnˈɪʃəli ɐtˈɛmptᵻd tə ɹᵻmˈeɪn nˈuːtɹəl æz ˌʌndɚ sˈoʊmə tˈɑːʃɪtˌeɪn ðə dəmˈeɪn wʌz ɹˈɛlətˌɪvli smˈɔːl ænd hæd nˈɛɡlɪdʒəbəl mˈɪlətˌɛɹi fˈoːɹsᵻz.
During the Boshin War of 1868–69, the Sōma clan initially attempted to remain neutral as under Sōma Toshitane the domain was relatively small and had negligible military forces.