To decode an arbitrary code through simple constitution on a small scale of circuit.

An element decoder 50 is provided with a decoding received value selecting circuit 70 that selects decoding received values TSR to be decoded from among all the received values TR inputted. Based on received value selecting information CRS supplied from a control circuit 60, the element decoder 50 selects decoding received values TSR through the decoding received value selecting circuit 70 and supplies the decoding received values TSR to a soft- output decoding circuit 90.