An image processing apparatus includes a determining unit, a modifying unit, a selecting unit, and a generating unit. The determining unit determines, with respect to a missing pixel position that does not have a signal of a specified color among colors forming an image, an interpolation process type indicating the type of an interpolation process of the signal of the specified color. The modifying unit modifies the determined interpolation process type based on interpolation process types of peripheral missing pixel positions located at the vicinity of the missing pixel position. The selecting unit selects a color-difference signal that is a difference between a signal of a color except the specified color and the signal of the specified color in correspondence with the modified interpolation process type. The generating unit generates an interpolation signal of the signal of the specified color at the missing pixel position based on the color-difference signal.