To provide a power generation mechanism that generates a constant amount of power, no matter how low the speed of force application is, ensuring a reliable switching operation; and to provide a method for generating power that generates a constant amount of power, no matter how low the speed of force application is, ensuring a reliable switching operation. The power generation mechanism includes, at least, a first movable member, a second movable member, a twisted coil spring, a power generator, and a housing. The first movable member and the second movable member are gears. A first wound part and a second wound part of the twisted coil spring are wound around a first center shaft in opposite directions. Initial elastic energy ie1 is applied to the first wound part, and initial elastic energy ie2 is applied to the second wound part. Absolute values of ie2 and ie1 are set to be equal to each other. The second movable member is turnable by a force from outside the power generation mechanism, bringing a tooth of the first movable member and a tooth of the second movable member into engagement with each other so that the first movable member is turned. With elastic energy ie12 accumulating on the first wound part, and with the tooth of the first movable member and the tooth of the second movable member disengaged from each other, the first center shaft is turned in an opposite direction by ie12 to generate power in the power generator. Also, the first center shaft is turned by ie1 and ie2 .