1. An image recognition apparatus comprising: shooting means for shooting an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified; a plurality of attribute-classified image database means classified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by said shooting means, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; selection means for selecting, from the plurality of attribute-classified image database means, one image database means of the attribute corresponding to the present situation of the face recognition; and object specifying means for specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database means selected by said selection means.