A radiographic image capturing apparatus comprising: a radiation source for applying radiation to a target object to be examined; a radiation detector for detecting radiation that has passed through the target object and for converting the detected radiation into a radiographic image; a holding member (30, 230) for holding the target object; and a compression member (38, 220, 244), which is capable of being displaced toward the holding member (30, 230) for compressing the target object held by the holding member (30, 230) such that the distance between the holding member (30, 230) and the compression member (38, 220, 244) becomes progressively smaller from a side region of the target object toward an opposite side region thereof while the compression member (38, 220, 244) is tilted and fixed in a tilted posture with respect to the holding member (30, 230) along lateral directions of the target object as viewed in front elevation; characterized by a tilted state maintaining mechanism (160, 162, 180, 182) for maintaining the compression member in a tilted state where the compression member is tilted, such that an end or an opposite end thereof is closer to the holding member across the target object as viewed in front elevation; a sampling needle for piercing the side region of the target object, which is compressed by the tilted compression member (38, 220, 244), along a piercing direction to remove a sample tissue from a test region in the target object, and a tilted direction determiner for determining a tilted direction in which the compression member (38, 220, 244) is tilted with respect to the holding member (30, 230) based on the piercing direction, wherein upon the sampling needle piercing the side region of the target object, the tilted direction determiner determines the tilted direction. a radiation source for applying radiation to a target object to be examined; a radiation detector for detecting radiation that has passed through the target object and for converting the detected radiation into a radiographic image; a holding member (30, 230) for holding the target object; and a compression member (38, 220, 244), which is capable of being displaced toward the holding member (30, 230) for compressing the target object held by the holding member (30, 230) such that the distance between the holding member (30, 230) and the compression member (38, 220, 244) becomes progressively smaller from a side region of the target object toward an opposite side region thereof while the compression member (38, 220, 244) is tilted and fixed in a tilted posture with respect to the holding member (30, 230) along lateral directions of the target object as viewed in front elevation; characterized by a tilted state maintaining mechanism (160, 162, 180, 182) for maintaining the compression member in a tilted state where the compression member is tilted, such that an end or an opposite end thereof is closer to the holding member across the target object as viewed in front elevation; a sampling needle for piercing the side region of the target object, which is compressed by the tilted compression member (38, 220, 244), along a piercing direction to remove a sample tissue from a test region in the target object, and a tilted direction determiner for determining a tilted direction in which the compression member (38, 220, 244) is tilted with respect to the holding member (30, 230) based on the piercing direction, wherein upon the sampling needle piercing the side region of the target object, the tilted direction determiner determines the tilted direction.