An apparatus and a method for measuring the remanence curve of a magnetic material with high accuracy is disclosed. First and second pulse magnetic field coils generate a rapidly-changing pulse magnetic field in the space where a magnetic material is located. First and second air-core coils generate a space of a zero magnetic field as well as a finite magnetic field gradient around the magnetic material after application of a pulse magnetic field. A detector detects the force generated by the cooperation between the magnetic field gradient and the magnetic moment of the magnetic material. An arithmetic unit 33 determines the residual magnetization characteristic of the magnetic material based on the detection result in the detector.