Method for controlling a laser power used in recording on an optical disk includes: causing the laser to emit a test light emission pattern including a multipulse light emission interval and an at-bottom value continuous light emission interval; receiving the test light emission pattern of the laser to convert the pattern to an electric signal and to thereby obtain a light detection signal; calculating a detection value of a multipulse average value from the average value of the light detection signal, and calculating a bottom detection value from the light detection signal to obtain a light emission power characteristic of the laser on a supplied current based on the detection value of the multipulse average value and the bottom detection value; and controlling the current supplied to the laser based on the light emission power characteristic on the current supplied to the laser.