An object of the present invention is to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which has a large charge/discharge capacity, has a small irreversible capacity, and is capable of effectively using an active material.This object can be achieved by a material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode; a specific surface area determined by a BET method being not greater than 30 m2/g; an atomic ratio (H/C) of hydrogen atoms to carbon atoms determined by elemental analysis being not greater than 0.1; an average particle size being not greater than 50 μm; and a diffraction intensity ratio (R-value) determined by Equation (1) being not greater than 1.25: (wherein Imax is a maximum value of a 002 diffraction intensity of carbon measured at an angle of diffraction (2θ) within a range of from 20 to 25° as determined by powder X-ray diffraction measured using CuKα rays; Imin is a minimum value of a diffraction intensity measured at an angle of diffraction (2θ) within a range of from 15 to 20° as determined by powder X-ray diffraction; and I35 is a diffraction intensity at an angle of diffraction (2θ) of 35° as determined by powder X-ray diffraction).