A video encoding method using inter-prediction, includes: encoding a first picture, wherein the first picture serves as a random access picture and is encoded without referring to a reference picture which has already encoded and then decoded; inter-prediction encoding a block included in a second picture, which is encoded after the first picture and displayed before the first picture, by using a plurality of reference pictures; generating reference picture information representing one or more past pictures which are encoded before the first picture and are used as reference pictures for encoding the second picture; and transmitting the encoded first picture and the encoded second pictures and the reference picture information, wherein, when the one or more past pictures are used as the reference pictures for encoding the second picture, the one or more past pictures are deleted from a memory after encoding at least the second picture.