A cyanine compound represented by the general formula (I), (VI) or (VII): wherein ring-A1 is an optionally substituted benzene or naphthalene ring; B is a group represented by the general formula (II) or (III); R1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms; R2 is a substituent represented by the general formula (IV); and Y1 is a hydrogen atom, an organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a substituent represented by the general formula (IV): wherein ring-A2 is the same as the ring-A1 in the general formula (I); Y4 and Y5 each are independently the same as Y1 in the general formula (I); X2 is the same as X1 in the general formula (I); R10 is the same as R1 in the general formula (I); R11 is the same as R2 in the general formula (I); R23 and R24 are the same as R21 and R22 in the formulas (II) and (III); n is an integer of 0 to 6; the polymethine chain may have a substituent; Anq- is a q-valent anion; q is 1 or 2; and p is a factor keeping the neutrality of charge.