An image processing apparatus includes an extraction section, a parameter retaining section, a context retaining section, and a decision section. The extraction section extracts a characteristic amount of a region in which a recognition object may possibly be included from within an image of a processing object. The parameter retaining section retains a parameter regarding the recognition object. The context retaining section retains a context regarding the recognition object. The decision section decides based on the characteristic amount extracted by the extraction section, the parameter retained in the parameter retaining section, and a result of arithmetic operation performed using the context retained in the context retaining section whether or not an image in the region is the recognition object.