A start-up light source having a simple structure that does not lead to an increase in production cost can reliably improve start-up performance of a high-pressure discharge lamp by irradiating the lamp with a necessary and sufficient amount of ultraviolet rays. A start-up light source (3) that emits ultraviolet rays to a discharge vessel (5) during start-up of lighting of a high-pressure discharge lamp (1) comprises a discharge tube (18) that generates ultraviolet rays by a start-up voltage applied during the start-up of lighting of the lamp (1). The discharge tube (18) is provided with an inner electrode (19) extending from a pinch sealed portion (23b) formed at an end thereof to a light emitting portion (23a) and an outer electrode (20) disposed adjacent to or brought into close contact with both the light emitting portion (23a) and the pinch sealed portion (23b). The outer electrode (20) includes a holder (H1) portion formed at at least the light emitting portion (23a) by bending a metallic plate so as to catch and hold the discharge tube (18), and the holder (H1) has a terminal that fixes and electrically connects the outer electrode (20) to a conductive part (8) having a polarity opposite to that of the inner electrode (19).
