An electronic-component holding apparatus, an electronic-component mounting system, and an electronic-component mounting method each of which assures that a nozzle head holding at least one suction nozzle is easily attached to, and detached from, a head holding member, are provided. A suction surface 130 of a head holding member 52 is held in close contact with a to-be-sucked surface 200 of a revolver head 56, so as to define a head-related negative-pressure chamber 204 that holds the revolver head 56 by utilizing suction based on a negative pressure. The revolver head 56 is rotated, and moved upward and downward, with the head holding member 52. The revolver head 56 has twelve suction nozzles 212 and twelve valve devices 264. Owing to the upward and downward movements of the head holding member 52, a lever drive member 510 engages a pivotable lever 224, a first spool valve 280, and a second spool valve 310, so as to move mechanically a corresponding suction nozzle 212 upward and downward and switch mechanically a corresponding valve device 264 to an arbitrary one of its negative-pressure supply state and its positive-pressure supply state, so that the corresponding suction nozzle 212 holds and mounts an electronic component.