To provide a preceding handrail gripping operation tool that grips a tubular preceding handrail and allows the preceding handrail to be installed to the upper layer side and dismantled from the lower layer side.

A preceding handrail gripping operation tool 1 comprises: a fitting grip part 2 having an opening part 24 in which a part of lateral side of a cylindrical body 22 with an internal diameter fitted to the outer shape of a pipe body portion 81 of a preceding handrail 8 is perforated along the axis extension direction; a pole part 3 connected to the fitting grip part at other sites than the opening part and arranged such that the axis extension direction is roughly orthogonal to axis extension direction of the cylindrical body; and a grip 4 arranged on the opposite side end part of the pole part 3 which is arranged on the fitting grip part. Notch face of the opening part is arranged to be roughly parallel to the axis extension direction of a pole part. In addition, a pin 25 is arranged to advance/retreat so as to open and close the opening part in the fitting grip part. This pin is interlocked with rotational operation of a lever arranged in the grip for advancing and retreating.