A holding mechanism 10 for holding an ink ribbon 20 includes a transparent shell 11 and a board 12. The transparent shell 11 of the ink ribbon 20 is provided with wind slack preventive portions 11a to 11d which prevent rotations of a feed bobbin 21 and reel bobbin 22, and wind meandering preventive portions 11e, 11f which bears down an axial end 23a of a film 23. The ink ribbon 20 can be stably held by the holding mechanism 10 during a transportation and a loading thereof. The transparent shell 11 is provided with support portions 11g, 11f which improve a stability when loading.