The present invention provides a lithium rechargeable battery including a negative electrode comprising a copper core material, to which is fixed an active material made by mixing artificial graphite particles A obtained by kneading and granulating a base material of pulverized bulk mesophase pitch with pitch in a softened state and/or thermosetting resin, carbonizing the resulting granules at 700 to 1,500.degree. C. and graphitizing the carbonized granules at 2,500 to 3,000.degree. C. with spherical graphite particles B having a high mean circularity, with a view to inhibiting the deterioration in battery capacity through the repeated charge/discharge cycles, which occurs remarkably in a high energy density lithium rechargeable battery, and providing excellent discharge characteristic and safety.