Abstract: A recording apparatus to record data on a recording medium including a plurality of recording layers is provided. The recording apparatus includes a recording circuit adapted to record data on a recording layer selected from among the plurality of recording layers included on the recording medium; a recordable capacity detecting circuit adapted to detect recordable capacity of each of the plurality of recording layers; an instructing circuit adapted to provide instructions to start recording of the data; and a selecting circuit adapted to select a recording layer on which the data is to be recorded in accordance with the instructions to start recording provided from the instructing circuit based on the recordable capacity of the plurality of recording layers detected by the recordable capacity detecting circuit.

Abstract: An information recording medium with high recording sensitivity, superior repeat overwriting capability and favorable signal storage stability during information recording is offered. For this purpose, information recording medium 15 comprising one or more information layers 16 that include a phase-change recording layer 104, wherein at least one of the information layers 16 includes, a Cr-containing layer containing Cr and O that contact with one side of a surface of the recording layer 104, and an In-containing layer containing In and O that contact with the other side of the surface of the recording layer 104.