National parks (ćœç«ć Źć, Kokuritsu KĆen) and quasi-national parks (ćœćźć Źć, Kokutei KĆen) of Japan are places of scenic beauty that are designated for protection and sustainable use by the Minister of the Environment under the Natural Parks Law (èȘç¶ć Źćæł) of 1957. National parks are designated and in principle managed by the Ministry of the Environment. Quasi-national parks, of a slightly lesser beauty, size, diversity, or state of preservation, are recommended for ministerial designation and managed by the prefectures under the supervision of the ministry.