By passing air 3 containing a liquid absorbent material 2 in the thickness direction of an air-permeable member 50 covering an opening 27a of a mold member 27, the liquid absorbent material 2 is deposited on the air-permeable member 50. In an apparatus 10 manufacturing an absorbent body 1 associated with an absorbent article, the air-permeable member 50 is securely reinforced, and deformation thereof is suppressed. The reinforcing member 60 is provided that reinforces the air-permeable member 50 by being superimposed on the air-permeable member 50 in the thickness direction. The reinforcing member 60 is a mesh in which the first wire 61 and the second wire 62 that intersect are connected at intersection points CP60 thereof. At the intersection points CP60, the reinforcing member 60 is joined to the air-permeable member 50.