The present invention addresses the problem of providing with a simple production process and with high efficiency a new photosensitive azobenzene derivative which is capable of freely controlling phase transition by photostimulation, and the problem is solved by using an azobenzene derivative represented by general formula (1). (1) (In the formula, R1 and R6 are independently an alkoxyl group having 6-18 carbon atoms, R2-R5 and R7-R10 are independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms which may have branches, provided that not all of R2-R5 and R7-R10 are hydrogen).