Data reproduction

A data reproducing method and a data reproducing apparatus which enable to run special reproductions such as a reverse reproduction quickly without accessing to a disk frequently. The data reproducing apparatus comprising demodulating means (3) for demodulating data read out of the disk (1), control means (6) for writing the demodulated data to storage means (5) and for reading the data from the storage means (5) and decoding means (10-16) for decoding data read out of the storage means (5) to the original data, further comprises detecting means (32) for detecting attribute information indicating attributes of the data appended per predetermined unit of the data so that the data is decoded selectively in response to the detected attribute information. A type of data stream and a type of picture can be known by detecting attribute information of the data, so that only necessary data may be selectively decoded and displayed in a variable-speed reproduction mode. Thereby, it becomes unnecessary to read data necessary for decoding out of the disk repeatedly every time when an image is reproduced during the special reproduction such as the backward reproduction and the waiting time necessary for reading data out of the disk may be shortened, allowing a smooth and quick special reproduction to be realized.