In an embodiment, a recognition apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, a principal axis selecting unit, a turning point setting unit, a section setting unit, and a determining unit. The obtaining unit obtains positions of a specific part in a coordinate system having a first axis to an n-th axis (n≧2). The calculating unit calculates a movement vector of the specific part. The principal axis selecting unit selects a principal axis. The turning point setting unit sets a position at which there is a change in the principal axis and sets a position at which there is a change. The section setting unit sets a determination target section, and sets a previous section. The determining unit calculates an evaluation value of the determination target section and an evaluation value of the immediately previous section and determines which of the first axis to the n-th axis is advantageous.