Light emitting device and illumination device

A light emitting device comprising:

• plural light emitting units in which at least one light emitting diode is disposed, wherein the plural light emitting units respectively have different emission colors and forward voltages,
• the other light emitting units than the light emitting unit whose forward voltage is a maximum are provided with a switching element that is connected in series with the light emitting diode,
• the other light emitting units than the light emitting unit whose forward voltage is a minimum are provided, on a negative electrode side, with an element that is connected in series with the light emitting diode and has a resistance,
• the switching element is an element that includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, causes the first terminal and the second terminal to turn into a conducting state by applying a prescribed voltage to the third terminal, and subsequently retains the conducting state in a case where a voltage of the third terminal is within a specific range, and
• a terminal on a positive electrode side of the element that has the resistance is electrically connected with the third terminal of the switching element that is provided to the light emitting unit whose forward voltage is highest among the light emitting units whose forward voltages are lower than the light emitting unit, that is provided with the element which has the resistance.