Disclosed herein are a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus which are capable of exerting a sterilizing effect on all microorganisms or viruses and which are safe for a living body to be sterilized. The sterilization method includes releasing reactive particles onto microorganisms or viruses to fragment proteins contained in the microorganisms or viruses on condition that nucleic acids contained in the microorganisms or viruses are not disrupted. The sterilization apparatus releases air containing reactive particles that fragment proteins without disrupting nucleic acids to kill microorganisms or viruses present in a target.