A photo image retrieval system stores photo images and a text data, and extracts and displays any photo image using an input retrieval sentence as an index. A photo image database records photo images with information about image capture dates. A text database stores text data. A text data analysis unit parses the text data, and extracts words. An index database establishes a correlation between information about words extracted and information about dates when the text data is entered. A retrieval sentence analysis unit parses the input retrieval sentence, and extracts a retrieval word A date information extraction unit extracts information about the date when the text data is entered by referring to the index database. A photo image extraction unit extracts, using the date as an index, any of the photo images captured on the date. A display unit displays the extracted photo image.