Provided are a fingerprint reading device and a fingerprint reading method that can appropriately read a fingerprint even when reading a fingerprint of a relatively soft finger that may be easily subjected to significant elastic deformation. The fingerprint reading device includes: a placement portion on which a finger is placed； a reading face provided on the placement portion so as to be able to move between a first position where the finger placed on the placement portion comes into contact with the reading face and a second position where the finger placed on the placement portion separates from the reading face； a drive unit that causes the reading face to move between the first position and the second position； and a reading unit that reads a fingerprint of the finger in contact with the reading face positioned at the first position, the drive unit causes the reading face in contact with the finger at the first position to move to the second position and further move from the second position to the first position, and the reading unit reads a fingerprint of the finger in contact with the reading face that has moved from the second position to the first position.
