An image processing apparatus enables smooth joint recording between 2 video coded streams without re-encoding by generating and inserting a dummy stream to maintain periodicity of phase information therebetween. A 2-3 pulldown unit 110 converts moving image data having a frame rate of 24 frames per 1 second, by periodically generating 2-field picture data and 3-field picture data from respective frames, to data having 60 fields per 1 second. An MPEG unit 111 compression-encodes the converted data. At this time, phase information of fields included in the respective pictures are added. A stream information detection unit 105 detects the phase information of a field included in a head picture. On the other hand, a join position information detection unit 107 detects the phase information of a field included in a rear end of a compressed coded stream already recorded on a recording medium 104. A connection stream generation unit 106 generates a connection stream to maintain phase conformity upon connection of the two streams based on the phase information. Then the streams are recorded, in a status where the connection stream is inserted therebetween, on the recording medium.