An image processing apparatus, comprising: an image reducing unit configured to perform a reduction process with a reduction ratio of resolution in one of a primary scanning direction and a secondary scanning direction of an image for each reduction target area including a predetermined number of pixels, and subsequently perform a reduction process with a reduction ratio of resolution in the other of the primary scanning direction and the secondary scanning direction of the image for each reduction target area including a predetermined number of pixels; a binarizing unit configured to binarize pixel values of the pixels included in the reduction target area in the reduction process; a characteristic value identifying unit configured to identify a characteristic value on the basis of a pattern of the binarized pixel values in the reduction target area, and integrate the characteristic value; and a control unit configured to terminate the reduction process of the image performed by the image reducing unit, change the reduction ratio of resolution so as to increase resolution of a reduced image, and cause the image reducing unit to perform the reduction process with the changed reduction ratio of resolution again when the integrated value of the characteristic value exceeds a predetermined threshold value before the image reduction unit finishes the reduction processes in the primary scanning direction and the secondary scanning direction of the image wherein the characteristic value identifying unit is further configured to classify the patterns of the binarized pixel values in the reduction target area using three or more predetermined conditions and use as the characteristic value one of values corresponding to the three or more conditions; the three or more conditions include a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition; the first condition is that the number of pixels which have the binarized pixel values of 1 is zero or the number of pixels which has the binarized pixel values of 0 is zero; the second condition is that at least one pixel which has the binarized pixel value of 1 is isolated or at least one pixel which has the binarized pixel value of 0 is isolated; and the third condition is that a binarized value of a left end pixel in the reduction target area is different from binarized values of adjacent pixels on both sides of the left end pixel or a binarized value of a right end pixel in the reduction target area is different from binarized values of adjacent pixels on both sides of the right end pixel. an image reducing unit configured to perform a reduction process with a reduction ratio of resolution in one of a primary scanning direction and a secondary scanning direction of an image for each reduction target area including a predetermined number of pixels, and subsequently perform a reduction process with a reduction ratio of resolution in the other of the primary scanning direction and the secondary scanning direction of the image for each reduction target area including a predetermined number of pixels; a binarizing unit configured to binarize pixel values of the pixels included in the reduction target area in the reduction process; a characteristic value identifying unit configured to identify a characteristic value on the basis of a pattern of the binarized pixel values in the reduction target area, and integrate the characteristic value; and a control unit configured to terminate the reduction process of the image performed by the image reducing unit, change the reduction ratio of resolution so as to increase resolution of a reduced image, and cause the image reducing unit to perform the reduction process with the changed reduction ratio of resolution again when the integrated value of the characteristic value exceeds a predetermined threshold value before the image reduction unit finishes the reduction processes in the primary scanning direction and the secondary scanning direction of the image wherein the characteristic value identifying unit is further configured to classify the patterns of the binarized pixel values in the reduction target area using three or more predetermined conditions and use as the characteristic value one of values corresponding to the three or more conditions; the three or more conditions include a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition; the first condition is that the number of pixels which have the binarized pixel values of 1 is zero or the number of pixels which has the binarized pixel values of 0 is zero; the second condition is that at least one pixel which has the binarized pixel value of 1 is isolated or at least one pixel which has the binarized pixel value of 0 is isolated; and the third condition is that a binarized value of a left end pixel in the reduction target area is different from binarized values of adjacent pixels on both sides of the left end pixel or a binarized value of a right end pixel in the reduction target area is different from binarized values of adjacent pixels on both sides of the right end pixel.