To obtain a wet friction material having a high energy absorption level under high-load conditions and excellent durability while maintaining stable frictional performances by improving heat transfer performances.

This wet friction material is characterized in that the paper- based wet friction material is obtained by making a raw material component composed of an organic fiber, a filler and a curling metal short fiber into a paper to form a sheet molding, integrally binding the sheet molding with a thermosetting resin and the content of the curling metal short fiber in the sheet molding is 5-20 wt.%. The material of the curling metal short fiber is preferably copper, nickel, iron, aluminum or their alloy.