PURPOSE: To shorten the time required for decoding processing by returning each information of a next line stored in a buffer memory to original coding data when the reproduction for one line is completed and performing the initialization of a line head.

CONSTITUTION: After an S/P converting circuit is completed, parallel code words from a coding data input output circuit 107 are converted to the coding mode information and the run-length by a code converting circuit 105, stored in a FIFO buffer 112, and restored and reproduced by a picture element data restoring circuit 113. At this time, the information for the next line is returned through a selector 103 and a FIFO buffer 104 to the original coding data by the circuit 105, supplied through a P/S converting circuit 106 and a selector 108 to the circuit 109, the head of the next line is quickly initialized without counting, etc., the number of bits and the coding processing time is shortened.