1. An image processing apparatus comprising: face-image detecting means for detecting a region of a face image from an image supplied thereto; face-direction detecting means for detecting a direction that a face in the face image detected by the face-image detecting means is facing; feature-position detecting means for selecting an appropriate feature-position detecting means from a plurality of feature-position detecting means on the basis of the direction of the face detected by the face-direction detecting means, for supplying the face image detected by the face-image detecting means to the selected appropriate feature-position detecting means, and for detecting feature positions corresponding to features of the face from the face image detected by the face-image detecting means and the direction of the face detected by the face-direction detecting means; feature-value calculating means for calculating feature values at the feature positions detected by the feature-position detecting means; mapping means for mapping the feature values calculated by the feature-value calculating means, using predetermined mapping functions; and recognizing means for recognizing whether the face detected by the face-image detecting means is a registered face, using the feature values mapped by the mapping means and feature values registered in advance, wherein the face-direction detecting means adjusts precision of the detected direction to match precision of face-direction information appropriate for the feature-position detecting means, and wherein when the direction of the detected face differs from a direction of the registered face, local-feature-value vectors extracted from the detected face are mapped using the predetermined mapping functions so that difference between the direction of the detected face and the direction of the registered face is absorbed for recognition.