Abstract: A flexible carbon material is produced by carbonizing a composite material comprising carbon fibers having an average length of 6 to 50 mm and a binding agent. Carbon lumps are derived from the binding agent and are dispersed in a matrix of the carbon fibers so as to restrain a plurality of the carbon fibers while yet permitting relative slippage to occur as between the carbon fibers and carbon lumps such that the carbon fiber material exhibits a flexibility ratio D/d of not greater than 200 (where D is the diameter of curvature of the carbon material, when bent, just before breakage, and d is the thickness of the carbon material). The carbon fibers and lumps are preferrably present in an amount of from 5 to 50%, and 5 to 70% by volume, respectively, based upon the total volume of the carbon material.