PURPOSE: To obtain a satisfactory restored picture by setting the characteristic of a filter based on encoding mode information and a distributed value outputted for each unit area from a distributed calculation circuit, outputting this characteristic and executing the filtering of respective characteristics to a picture signal outputted from a decoder circuit based on this output.

CONSTITUTION: The encoding data of the picture and the encoding mode information are inputted from input terminals (a) and (b) and the source picture signal is restored from a decoder circuit 11. One block line of the restored picture signal is divided for every J picture elements (J is a constant), and the block of (I lines)×(J picture elements) is set. Then, a distributed calculation circuit 12 calculates the distributed value of the restored picture signal having the picture elements included in the respective blocks. Next, this distributed value and the encoding mode information decided for each block line are inputted to a filter characteristic setting circuit 13 and in the filter characteristic setting circuit 13, the spatial filter characteristic of a filter circuit 14 is set for each block. Based on the characteristic, filtering is executed to the restored picture signal. Thus, the more visually satisfactory restored picture signal can be obtained.