A hydrogenation catalyst carries an active metal hydride in an alumina-phosphorus carrier, (1) the hydrogenation catalyst having a specific surface area of not less than 100 m2/g, (2) the total pore volume (DeltaPVT) being in a range from 0.80 to 1.50 mL/g measured by mercury intrusion, (3) the hydrogenation catalyst having a local maximum value of pore distribution in a pore diameter range of from 10 to 30 nm, (4) the proportion of pore volume (DeltaPV) in a range of +-2 nm for pore diameter at the local maximum value and the proportion (DeltaPV/PVme) of pore volume in a range of 5-100nm for pore diameter being no more than 0.40, (5) pressure resistant strength being at least 10 N/nm, (6) the hydrogenation catalyst comprising 0.4-10% by weight of phosphorus as a concentration conversion amount based on the total amount of catalyst, and (7); the active metal hydride being at least one metal selected from the group 6A metals and the group 8 metals of the periodic table.