An information processing apparatus, comprising: a menu image display unit that displays a menu image (Im) representing a plurality of menu item images (Ic) respectively associated with any one of a plurality of programs on a screen; a program-related image display unit that displays on the screen, when any one of the menu item images (Ic) is selected, a program-related image relating to a program associated with the selected menu item image (Ic), including an activation image to be subjected to an operation of activating the program; a selection order storage unit that stores a selection order of already-selected ones of the menu item images (Ic); an image switching unit that, selects when a first or a second direction along a side of the screen is specified, another program-related image relating to the program associated with a menu item (Ic) stored in the selection order storage unit immediately before or after the menu item associated with the program-related image currently being displayed, depending on whether the first or the second direction is specified, respectively, and displays said selected another program-related image to replace the currently being displayed one; and when the second direction is specified in a state in which the program-related image associated with the most recently selected menu item image (Ic) is being displayed, redisplay the menu item image (Im); and a program activation unit that activates, when an operation by the user is performed on the activation image included in the currently being displayed program-related image, the program relating to this program-related image, and displays on the screen an image generated by the program. a menu image display unit that displays a menu image (Im) representing a plurality of menu item images (Ic) respectively associated with any one of a plurality of programs on a screen; a program-related image display unit that displays on the screen, when any one of the menu item images (Ic) is selected, a program-related image relating to a program associated with the selected menu item image (Ic), including an activation image to be subjected to an operation of activating the program; a selection order storage unit that stores a selection order of already-selected ones of the menu item images (Ic); an image switching unit that, selects when a first or a second direction along a side of the screen is specified, another program-related image relating to the program associated with a menu item (Ic) stored in the selection order storage unit immediately before or after the menu item associated with the program-related image currently being displayed, depending on whether the first or the second direction is specified, respectively, and displays said selected another program-related image to replace the currently being displayed one; and when the second direction is specified in a state in which the program-related image associated with the most recently selected menu item image (Ic) is being displayed, redisplay the menu item image (Im); and selects when a first or a second direction along a side of the screen is specified, another program-related image relating to the program associated with a menu item (Ic) stored in the selection order storage unit immediately before or after the menu item associated with the program-related image currently being displayed, depending on whether the first or the second direction is specified, respectively, and displays said selected another program-related image to replace the currently being displayed one; and when the second direction is specified in a state in which the program-related image associated with the most recently selected menu item image (Ic) is being displayed, redisplay the menu item image (Im); and a program activation unit that activates, when an operation by the user is performed on the activation image included in the currently being displayed program-related image, the program relating to this program-related image, and displays on the screen an image generated by the program.