The objective of the invention is to reduce color irregularities in an illumination light emitted from the light-emitting device when a phosphor layer comprising a small-gap phosphor plate is used. The light-emitting device (100) emitting a laser light (L1) as part of the illumination light comprises: semiconductor lasers (10a to 10c) emitting a laser light (L1) which is visible radiation; a phosphor layer (1a) comprising a small-gap phosphor plate receiving the laser light (L1) emitted from the semiconductor lasers (10a to 10c) and generating fluorescent light (L2); and an excitation light distribution control portion (1b) controlling the light distribution of the laser light (L1) and guiding the laser light (L1) into the phosphor layer (1a). The small-gap phosphor plate is a phosphor plate wherein the gaps present within have widths of 0 nm to one-tenth the wavelength of the laser light (L1) inclusive.
