To provide a mobile terminal and a flash control method for easily controlling flash light emission.

On a side portion of a main body part 3, there are provided a key 127 which is functioned as a shutter key of a camera mode in the state of closing a lid part 2, and a key 128 which is functioned as a flash switching key. Each time the key 128 is pressed, an automatic emission mode during which the quantity of emitted light of flash is automatically controlled in accordance with exposure, a forced emission mode during which light of predetermined quantity is emitted, and an emission prohibit mode during which the flash light is not emitted, are cyclically and sequentially switched, and any mode can be selected. If a shutter button (determine key or key 127) is pressed, photographing is performed while automatically controlling whether or not light of a flash LED 119 is to be emitted, and the quantity of emitted light according to the photographing situation (such as exposure) and an emission mode at that time point.