A movable particle display (such as an electrophoretic display) in which a plurality of closed spaces are two-dimensionally disposed along a surface of the substrate, a plurality of particles contained in each of the closed spaces, and a reflection surface for reflecting light which enters each of the closed particles are moved inside a closed space, between a position at which they cover a reflecting surface and a position at which they are collected to expose the reflecting surface. At least a part of the reflecting surface diffusely reflects incident light with an intensity distribution having directional properties (i.e. non-isotropically). The intensity of the diffusely reflected light has an angular distribution such that: (1) the amount of light reflected toward the position at which the particles are collected is smaller than in the case when the distribution of diffusely reflected light is isotropic, and (2) the amount of light reflected away from the position at which the particles are collected is larger than that of light reflected towards that position.