PURPOSE: To eliminate the recording data pattern dependency of the rear edge position of a mark by performing optical recording by deciding the optimum pre-pulse condition to an optical disk by arithmetic operation.

CONSTITUTION: In an optical recording method in which a mark is formed on an optical recording medium D by using a pre-pulse system, a condition deciding means 12 decides the combination among the intensity Ppre at which the laser source is maintained in a preheating state, intensity PW1 which is higher than the intensity Ppre, intensity PW2 which is lower than the intensity PW1, and the maintaining time TW1 of the intensity PW1. Then, a pulse driving circuit 1 controls the intensity PW2 so that the temperature at the peak temperature position or spot center position of a laser beam on the surface of a medium D after the elapse of the time TW1 can become constant even when the intensity is lowered to PW2. Therefore, the optimum pre-pulse condition to the medium D can be found and the recording data pattern dependency of the ending position of a mark can be eliminated from any kinds of optical recording media.