There were three selection procedures for the position: (1) the Heredity Nanushi system would require the legacy in a member of the same family having successively assumed an office in a Nanushi or Shoya position; (2) the Nenban Nanushi system required a yearly family rotation; (3) the final procedural type was a hybrid of the former two (This type was not heredity, but certain persons served in the position for several years).
(1)代々同じ家が就任する世襲名主制、(2)一年ごとに交代する年番名主制、(3)その中間型（世襲ではないがある者が複数年勤める形）の3つがあった。