A recording and reproducing apparatus includes a drive unit that reads data from a first medium and a drive unit control unit that controls the drive unit. The apparatus includes a second medium in which the same amount of data as the amount of data recorded in the first medium can be stored, and from or in which data is read or written at a speed higher than a speed at which data is read or written from or in the first medium. The apparatus further includes an input/output unit that inputs a reading request with which predetermined data is read from among data items stored in the first medium or second medium. The apparatus also includes an access control unit which controls the drive unit control unit or a second medium control unit.