It is the object of the invention to provide a PDP apparatus and a driving method that can apply pulses at high speeds and can display high-definition, high-quality images by allowing discharge cells to emit light with high luminance and high efficiency.To achieve the object, the pulse has (i) a first waveform portion where a first voltage, an absolute value of which is no smaller than a discharge start voltage, is applied and (ii) a second waveform portion where a second voltage, an absolute value of which is greater than the absolute value of the first voltage, is applied, the second waveform portion following the first waveform portion, and the second waveform portion starts before a discharge delay time elapses from a start of the first waveform portion.Also to achieve the object, in a PDP having an electrode structure in which each electrode is divided into a plurality of line electrodes, the applied pulse has (i) a first waveform portion where a first voltage, an absolute value of which is no smaller than a discharge start voltage, is applied and (ii) a second waveform portion where a second voltage, an absolute value of which is greater than the absolute value of the first voltage, is applied, the second waveform portion following the first waveform portion.