To obtain a hydrogenation process and a catalyst therefor not only excellent in capability of the hydrodearomatization and hydrodenitrification of a hydrocarbon oil but also effective in hydrodesulfurization.

A hydrocarbon is passed together with hydrogen through a catalyst in which 0.1-15 wt.% nickel, cobalt, or iron, 1-50 wt.% tungsten and/or 1-20 wt.% molybdenum or chromium, and 0.01-10 wt.% zinc are supported by an active carbon having a BET surface area of 600 m2/g or larger, a micropore vol. of 0.3 m3/g or larger, and an average micropore size of 12 or larger and sulfurizing the catalyst components.