a reproduction unit configured to transport a tape-shaped recording medium and to reproduce an image data string including coded image data from the tape-shaped recording medium, wherein the coded image data is coded for every frame using intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding selectively;

a memory storing the image data string reproduced by the reproduction unit;

a decoding unit configured to read and decode the image data string stored in the memory;

an instruction unit configured to generate an instruction to perform reproduction in one of a normal reproduction mode of reproducing the image data string at a normal reproduction speed and a slow reproduction mode of reproducing the image data string at a speed slower than the normal reproduction speed; and

a control unit configured to, responsive to the instruction from the instruction unit to perform reproduction in the slow reproduction mode, control the reproduction unit to reproduce the image data string while transporting the tape-shaped recording medium at a transport speed of the normal reproduction mode until a predetermined amount of the image data string is accumulated in the memory, and thereafter, to reproduce the image data string while transporting the tape-shaped recording medium at a transport speed corresponding to the slow reproduction mode.