This is a list of elders of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). More accurately called "elder stock" or , these names are a finite number of licenses that can be passed on, and are strictly controlled by the JSA. They allow certain advantageous privileges and there are official criteria for whether or not a retiring wrestler can acquire one. In 1927, the number of licenses was set at 105. For more information see .
This list is in approximate order of the current elders' rank in the organization. Members with borrowed are always at the bottom of the hierarchy (aside from consultants) and are listed here with the name of the owner, if known. Elections to the Board of Directors are held every two years; the latest was in March 2024.
The sumo elder hierarchy from the top rank down is as follows:
Elders who do not own but borrow their elder names are always . They are not allowed to be stablemasters.
is not a rank, but a group of independent councillors who act as a kind of supervisory board for the directors. Initially there were three Internal Councillors (à Âtake, Futagoyama and Minatogawa) and four External Councillors (persons outside the sumo world). The Internal Councillors were ranked as prior to taking office and returned to that rank at the conclusion of their four-year term. In March 2018 they were replaced by three former wrestlers who are completely outside the Sumo Association: Fujinokawa, Washà «yama and Asanosho.