A needle holder (20) of the present invention comprises a flexible elongated flexible tube portion (21) which can be inserted into a treatment instrument channel (9) of a flexible endoscope (2), a flexible tube portion A first gripping member (23) rotatably connected to a distal end portion of the flexible tube portion (21), and a second gripping member (26) provided at a distal end portion of the flexible tube portion (21) In the state where the curved needle is gripped by the first gripping surface (25) of the one gripping member (23) and the second gripping surface (27) of the second gripping member (26), the first gripping surface (25) and the second gripping surface (27) holds the gripped region of the curved needle at a position between the tip of the second grip member (26) and the needle point of the curved needle in the central axis direction of the second grip member (26) So that the second gripping member (26) is inclined. 本発明の持針器(20)は、軟性内視鏡(2)の処置具チャンネル(9)に挿通可能な可撓性を有する長尺の可撓管部(21)と、可撓管部(21)の先端部に回動可能に連結された第一把持部材(23)と、可撓管部(21)の先端部に設けられた第二把持部材(26)と、を備え、第一把持部材(23)の第一把持面(25)と第二把持部材(26)の第二把持面(27)により曲針を把持した状態において第一把持面(25)と第二把持面(27)により把持される前記曲針の被把持領域が、第二把持部材(26)の中心軸方向において、第二把持部材(26)の先端と前記曲針の針先との間に位置するように、第二把持部材(26)が傾斜している。