A variable length data storage device enables clearly and quickly determining where there are breaks in variable length data even when such data is stored without gaps in a stored data file. A variable length data storage step stores variable length items, each containing variable length data including at the beginning the length of such data, without gaps in a stored data file. A marker management item registration step registers marker management items, each containing a break marker and the storage location of the variable length data corresponding to the break marker, in a marker management file. A marker identifier management item registration step registers marker identifier management items, each including a marker identifier composed of a predetermined number of characters from the beginning of the text string used as the break marker and the storage location of the break marker, in a marker management memory area.