The Rijikai is elected at the beginning of every even numbered year, usually at the end of January or the beginning of February. It is the governing body of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai. The board of directors actually consist only of the Rijicho (chairman), the nine Riji (executive directors) and the three Kanji (directors). The Sodan Yaku and Yakuin Taigu aren't a part, but they are listed as well, as they are senior officers and have vice director equivalent posts.

Oyakata written in italics have passed away, retired or lost their post during the respective election periods.

In September 2008 three external directors have been appointed. The "internal" Kanji have become Fukuriji (new rank) from that day on.

2012-2014        
RijichoKitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
RijiKokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
Dewanoumi (former Washuyama) 
Takanohana (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Kagamiyama (former Tagaryu) 
Tateyama (former Tamanofuji) 
Hakkaku (former Hokutoumi) 
Chiganoura (former Masudayama) 
Oguruma (former Kotokaze) 
Kasugayama/Ikazuchi (former Kasugafuji) 
Ext. RijiEbisawa Katsuji 
Munakata Norio 
Ext. KanjiTerasawa Noritada 
Okabe ... 
Kamiyama Toshioappointed 2012 Feb 22 as external director
FukurijiOyama (former Daihi) 
Tamanoi (former Tochiazuma) 
Matsugane (former Wakashimazu) 
Sodan YakuMusashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Yakuin TaiguNishonoseki (former Kongo) 
Mihogaseki (former Masuiyama) 
Yamashina (former Onishiki) 
Asahiyama (former Daiju) 
 
2010-2012        
RijichoMusashigawa (former Mienoumi)stepped back on 2010 Aug 11
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
RijiDewanoumi (former Washuyama) 
Kitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori)demoted to Yakuin on 2011 Apr 06 (yaocho scandal)
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu)ascended to rijicho during election period
Musashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Tomozuna (former Kaiki) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji)demoted to Yakuin on 2011 Apr 06 (yaocho scandal)
Nishonoseki (former Kongo) 
Takanohana (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Kagamiyama (former Tagaryu) 
Michinoku (former Kirishima)demoted to Iin on 2011 Apr 06 (yaocho scandal)
Ext. RijiMurayama, Hiroyoshi 
Ito, Shigeru 
Ext. KanjiYoshino, Jun 
Terasawa, Noritadaappointed 2010 Aug 12 as external director
FukurijiMihogaseki (former Masuiyama) 
Shiranui (former Aobajo) 
Nakamura (former Fujizakura) 
Yakuin TaiguKitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori)demoted from Riji
Sendagawa (former Maenoyama)turned 65 on 2010 Mar 09
Oshima (former Asahikuni)demoted to Iin on 2011 Apr 06 (yaocho scandal)
Isenoumi (former Fujinogawa)turned 65 on 2011 Sep 26
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji)demoted from Riji
Hakkaku (former Hokutoumi)demoted to Iin on 2011 Apr 06 (yaocho scandal)
Yamashina (former Onishiki) 
 
2008-2010        
RijichoKitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori)stepped back on 2008 Sep 08
Musashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
RijiMusashigawa (former Mienoumi)ascended to rijicho during election period
Isenoumi (former Fujinogawa) 
Kitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Oshima (former Asahikuni) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana)lost post (deshi found guilty of drug use) on 2008 Aug 21
Dewanoumi (former Washuyama) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Tomozuna (former Kaiki) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
Nishonoseki (former Kongo) 
Ext. RijiIto, Shigeruappointed 2008 Sep 30 as external director
Murayama, Hiroyoshiappointed 2008 Sep 30 as external director
Ext. KanjiYoshino, Junappointed 2008 Sep 30 as external director
Kanji/FukurijiMihogaseki (former Masuiyama) 
Minato (former Yutakayama) 
Shiranui (former Aobajo) 
Yakuin TaiguTakadagawa/Sendagawa (former Maenoyama) 
Takasago (former Asashio) 
Hidenoyama (former Hasegawa)turned 65 on 2009 Jul 20
Tamanoi (former Tochiazuma)turned 65 on 2009 Sep 03
Takanohana (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana)repromoted to Yakuin on 2009 Feb 02
 
2006-2008        
RijichoKitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
RijiOshima (former Asahikuni) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana) 
Takasago (former Asashio) 
Musashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Isenoumi (former Fujinogawa) 
Dewanoumi (former Washuyama) 
Hidenoyama (former Hasegawa) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Tomozuna (former Kaiki) 
KanjiMihogaseki (former Masuiyama) 
Minato (former Yutakayama) 
Shiranui (former Aobajo) 
Yakuin TaiguTakadagawa (former Maenoyama) 
Wakafuji/Isegahama/Wakafuji (former Katsuhikari)turned 65 on 2007 Aug 09
Oshiogawa (former Daikirin)retired on 2006 Jun 20
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
Isegahama/Wakafuji (former Kiyokuni)turned 65 on 2006 Nov 20
Tamanoi (former Tochiazuma)nominated during election period on 2007 Jan 29
 
2004-2006        
RijichoKitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
RijiFutagoyama (former Takanohana)passed away on 2005 May 30
Oshima (former Asahikuni) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana) 
Wakafuji (former Katsuhikari) 
Takasago (former Asashio) 
Musashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Isenoumi (former Fujinogawa) 
Dewanoumi (former Washuyama) 
Oshiogawa (former Daikirin) 
KanjiMihogaseki (former Masuiyama) 
Hidenoyama (former Hasegawa) 
Minato (former Yutakayama) 
Yakuin TaiguIsegahama (former Kiyokuni)lost post after yellow press interview
Taiho (Ichidai Toshiyori)turned 65 on 2005 May 29
Sadogatake (former Kotozakura)turned 65 on 2005 Nov 26
Takadagawa (former Maenoyama) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
Sekinoto (former Fukunohana)turned 65 on 2005 Jul 01
 
2002-2004        
RijichoKitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
RijiSadogatake (former Kotozakura) 
Futagoyama (former Takanohana) 
Oshima (former Asahikuni) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana) 
Wakafuji (former Katsuhikari) 
Takasago (former Asashio) 
Musashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Isenoumi (former Fujinogawa) 
Dewanoumi (former Washuyama) 
Sodan YakuSakaigawa/Nakadachi (former Sadanoyama)turned 65 on 2003 Feb 18
Tokitsukaze/Nishikijima (former Yutakayama)turned 65 on 2002 Aug 18
KanjiTokiwayama (former Wakachichibu) 
Hakkaku (former Hokutoumi) 
Mihogaseki (former Masuiyama) 
Yakuin TaiguIsegahama (former Kiyokuni) 
Taiho (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Kasugano/Takenawa (former Tochinoumi)turned 65 on 2003 Mar 13
Wakamatsu (former Fujinishiki)turned 65 on 2002 Mar 18
Takadagawa (former Maenoyama) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
Sekinoto (former Fukunohana) 
 
2000-2002        
RijichoTokitsukaze (former Yutakayama) 
RijiSakaigawa (former Sadanoyama) 
Sadogatake (former Kotozakura) 
Kitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Futagoyama (former Takanohana) 
Takadagawa (former Maenoyama) 
Oshima (former Asahikuni) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana) 
Wakafuji (former Katsuhikari) 
Wakamatsu/Takasago (former Asashio) 
KanjiMusashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Tokiwayama (former Wakachichibu) 
Hakkaku (former Hokutoumi) 
Yakuin TaiguIsegahama (former Kiyokuni) 
Taiho (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Kasugano (former Tochinoumi) 
Takasago/Wakamatsu (former Fujinishiki) 
Edagawa (former Kitabayama)turned 65 on 2000 May 17
Kise (former Kiyosegawa)turned 65 on 2000 Apr 08
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
Sekinoto (former Fukunohana) 
 
1998-2000        
RijichoTokitsukaze (former Yutakayama) 
RijiSakaigawa (former Sadanoyama) 
Takasago (former Fujinishiki) 
Sadogatake (former Kotozakura) 
Kitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Futagoyama (former Takanohana) 
Kise (former Kiyosegawa) 
Takadagawa (former Maenoyama) 
Oshima (former Asahikuni) 
Magaki (former Wakanohana) 
KanjiMusashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Tokiwayama (former Wakachichibu) 
Takekuma (former Kurohimeyama) 
Yakuin TaiguTatsunami (former Haguroyama)turned 65 on 1999 Feb 22
Isegahama (former Kiyokuni) 
Taiho (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Kasugano (former Tochinoumi) 
Edagawa (former Kitabayama) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji) 
 
1996-1998        
RijichoSakaigawa (former Sadanoyama) 
RijiTatsunami (former Haguroyama) 
Tokitsukaze (former Yutakayama) 
Jinmaku (former Kitanofuji)left after Takadagawa's rebellion in 1998
Takasago (former Fujinishiki) 
Sadogatake (former Kotozakura) 
Edagawa (former Kitabayama) 
Kitanoumi (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Futagoyama (former Takanohana) 
Kise (former Kiyosegawa) 
KanjiMagaki (former Wakanohana) 
Musashigawa (former Mienoumi) 
Oshiogawa (former Daikirin) 
Yakuin TaiguIsegahama (former Kiyokuni) 
Taiho (Ichidai Toshiyori) 
Kagamiyama (former Kashiwado)passed away on 1996 Dec 12
Kasugano (former Tochinoumi) 
Hanaregoma (former Kaiketsu) 
Kokonoe (former Chiyonofuji)