A production method of an active material, and the active material are provided to realize an active material containing metal-containing particles and being capable of achieving satisfactory cycle performance and rate performance. The active material is produced by a method of polymerizing a mixture of a metal ion, a hydroxy acid, and a polyol to obtain a polymer, and a step of carbonizing the polymer. The active material used is one having a carbonaceous porous material, and metal particles and/or metal oxide particles supported in pores of the carbonaceous porous material, and particle diameter of the metal-containing particles are in the range of 10 to 300 nm.