Abstract: Encoded video data and audio data for a high resolution still picture are read by a reader from a recording medium, and are input to a video/audio separator. A buffer control unit of a controller monitors the amount of video data stored with respect to a storage capacity allotted to a video bit-stream area of a memory to prevent overflow or underflow with respect to the data storage. The video data separated by the video/audio separator is temporarily stored in a storage unit. The temporarily stored video data is decoded by a video decoder, the decoded video data is temporarily stored in the storage unit and is output to a decoded-video data output terminal as video display data. The audio data from the video/audio separator is transmitted to an audio decoder via an audio-data transmitter, is decoded, and is output to an audio-decoded data output terminal as decoded audio data.