Holographic recording and reproducing using a compact configuration provides no reduction in the recording/reproducing capability. Information light and recording-specific reference light having a spatially modulated phase are generated and projected onto an optical recording medium coaxially that converge on a reflecting surface of a recording medium. P-polarized recording-specific reference light and S-polarized information light are each optically rotated by a two-way split optical rotation plate in directions different between respective half areas of the cross section of the beam thereof. An interference paffern resulting from interference between information light yet to impinge on the reflecting surface and recording-specific reference light reflected by the reflecting surface and an interference pattern resulting from interference between recording-specific reference light yet to impinge on the reflecting surface and information light reflected by the reflecting surface are recorded in the information recording layer.