To provide a friction material that suppresses detachment of a carbon nanotube due to a load applied in a parallel direction to a substrate surface or excessive deformation of the carbon nanotube itself due to a load applied in a perpendicular direction to the substrate surface at the time of friction while maintaining high friction characteristics, a method for producing the friction material, and a braking member, a clutching member, and a drive unit provided with the friction material.

The friction material has a substrate, an adhesive layer arranged on the substrate, a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged on the substrate. The plurality of carbon nanotubes are oriented with one end embedded in the adhesive layer and fixed substantially perpendicular to a surface of the adhesive layer, while the other end protruding from the adhesive layer and bent substantially along the surface of the adhesive layer.