1. An image predictive decoding method in which image data obtained by compressively coding a variable-size image using a prescribed method is input, a prediction image is generated using, as a reference image, at least one reproduced image which has been reproduced before an image being an object of decoding, and the object image is subjected to predictive decoding: wherein said prediction image is generated using, as a reference image, at least one reproduced image which has been recently reproduced and includes significant image data to be referred to.