Abstract: To provide a starter for an internal combustion engine which is capable of reducing a press-fit amount of a press-fit portion of a torque absorbing mechanism of a rotation transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of a kick shaft to a crank shaft, thereby enhancing the durability of the starter and making the starter compact. A kick-type starter for an internal combustion engine includes a rotation transmitting mechanism (a kick drive gear, a boss having a ratchet portion, a pinion gear, and an idler gear) for transmitting the rotation of a kick shaft to a crank shaft. The rotation transmitting mechanism is provided with a torque absorbing mechanism for absorbing an excessive torque due to an excessive input from the kick shaft. The torque absorbing mechanism is provided on the kick shaft, and includes a gear set composed of the boss having the ratchet and the pinion gear which are press-fitted to each other.