An object of the invention is to provide a negative electrode capable of improving the large current characteristics of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery while maintaining the battery capacity. A negative electrode includes a sheet-like current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer disposed on a surface of the current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes graphite particles and ceramic particles interposed between the graphite particles. The mean particle size of the ceramic particles is smaller than that of the graphite particles. In an X-ray diffraction pattern of the negative electrode mixture layer, the ratio R of the intensity I110 of a peak attributed to a (110) plane of the graphite particles to the intensity I002 of a peak attributed to a (002) plane, i.e., the ratio I110/I002, is 0.05 or more. The negative electrode mixture layer has a density of 1.1 to 1.8 g/cm3.