An object of the invention is to provide an organic EL element which uses an organometallic complex emitting light by phosphorescence and which represents excellent luminous efficiency, etc; or the like. The organic EL element of the invention includes the organometallic complex, where the organometallic complex includes a metal atom, and a tridentate ligand, where the tridentate ligand binds to the metal atom tridentately via two nitrogen atoms and a carbon atom, and the carbon atom is located between the two nitrogen atoms, and where the tridentate ligand has two azomethine bonds (--C.dbd.N--), and each nitrogen atom in the azomethine bonds coordinates to the metal atom. Preferably, in one aspect, the organometallic complex includes a monodentate ligand which binds to the metal atom monodentately, and in another aspect, the metal atom is Pt.