An interrogator has antennas for communicating information in a
non-contact manner with an IC circuit part of a RFID circuit element to
be interrogated, a control circuit, and a radio frequency circuit
including a directivity switching control portion. In accordance with at
least said communication distance of information communication, the
control circuit and the directivity switching control portion perform
control so as to broaden the directivity of the antennas when said
communication distance is short and to narrow the directivity of the
antennas when said communication distance is long.