A bending operating member for performing a bending operation on an elongated member having flexibility in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the elongated member includes a pulling member, at least a portion of the pulling member being configured to be connected to a distal portion of the elongated member such that, when said pulling member is pulled in the axial direction of the elongated member, the pulling member causes the elongated member to bend; a moving member that is connected to the pulling member, the moving member being configured to move so as to pull the pulling member in the axial direction of the elongated member; a rotating member that is operatively connected to the moving member and is rotatable around an axis of the elongated member; and a converting part that converts rotation of the rotating member into movement of the moving member.