PURPOSE: To correctly recognize a character even if a character pattern is inputted slantwise and even if the character is the handwritten one.

CONSTITUTION: '0' is substituted for a variable (i) showing a direction that a tentacle is extended from an observation point and it is reset. '0' is substituted for a cumulative black element connection length 'l' and it is reset. Any value of numbers 1, 2...8 corresponding to eight directions (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270 and 315 degrees) shown in (b) is given to the variable (i). A picture element adjacent to the (i)-direction of the observation point P31 is checked to be black or not. When it is black, '1' is added to 'l' and the tentacle is extended by one. Then, the tentacle is advanced in the (i)-direction. When it reaches an outline point P32 in the advance processing, and the picture element adjacent to the (i)-direction becomes white, an angle θ formed by a straight line connecting the observation point P31 and the head position P33 of the present tentacle and by the (i)-direction is obtained. Then, it is compared with half an angle formed by the (i)-direction and an adjacent i'-direction. The tentacle is extended to P33 and P34 until it exceeds said angle. When it exceeds the angle, the tentacle is extended again from P31 in the next (i)-direction so as to recognize the character by the connection result of eight directions.