[1] The most recent conductor with the title of music director of the orchestra was Vladimir Ashkenazy, from 2004 to 2007.

The orchestra's current permanent conductors are Yuzo Toyama, since 1979, and Tadaaki Otaka, since 2010.

In June 2012, the orchestra named Paavo Järvi as its next chief conductor, as of the 2015–2016 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.

[2] Järvi's most recent contract extension with the NHK Symphony, announced in November 2019, is through August 2022,[3] at which time he is scheduled to stand down from the orchestra.

In April 2021, the orchestra announced the appointment of Luisi as its next chief conductor, effective September 2022, with an initial contract of 3 years.