An object of the present invention is to provide a dithioester compound generating an aralkyloxy radical having high ability of abstracting hydrogen. The present invention provides a dithioester compound represented by a formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 or more carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having two or more carbon atoms, an alkynyl group having two or more carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 or more carbon atoms and optionally having a substituent group, an aralkyl group having 6 or more carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom, or a halogen atom; R3 represents an aryl group having 6 or more carbon atoms and optionally having a substituent group, or an aralkyl group having 6 or more carbon atoms and optionally having a substituent group.