Abstract: An occupant protecting structure of a vehicle body upper portion, which absorbs initial energy of the load caused by an occupant colliding against the body upper portion without increase in weight of the structure. A pillar outer panel, pillar inner panel and pillar reinforce respectively have flange portions at both ends thereof. The respective flange portions of the pillar outer panel, the pillar inner panel and the pillar reinforce are joined in layers by spot welding at each of the both ends. The pillar outer panel, the pillar inner panel and the pillar reinforce form a closed cross-sectional configuration when cut along a virtual line perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the pillar outer panels, pillar inner panel and pillar reinforce. An energy absorbing panel is disposed further toward the interior of the vehicle than the pillar inner panel with a space therebetween.