To provide an image processing apparatus that does not cause missing of characters in a case where a monochrome copy is made by reading a color original document even when the base and characters thereon have the same reflectance as long as they have different hues. A Multi AVDISCFCM issues an instruction based on a process of an application program of an IRD to each AVDISCFCM to read out contents management information recorded on a recording medium loaded on each MD drive to produce an inner table. Each of the plurality of planetary gear sets has first, second and third members: a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet carrier having a plurality of planet gears rotatably disposed thereon.