The Kawamura Museum opened in 1990 to house and exhibit works of art from the collection of Dainippon Ink and Chemicals. The permanent collection is a varied one, containing many fine examples from different periods of Western and Japanese art. Included among the major works are pieces by Rembrandt, Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky, Chagall, Pollock, Rothko and Stella.

The Rothko collection, one of the world's finest, is exhibited in a specially designed Rothko meditation room, of which there are only four in the world. The Stella and Rothko acquisitions were primarily accomplished by the chief curator, Nobuyuki Hiromoto.

Hiromoto is an art curator with a solid art background. He graduated with a major in aesthetics from Tokyo University and formerly was the chief curator of the Akira Ikeda Gallery. In addition to making many valuable additions to the Kawamura's permanent collection, he has been instrumental in bringing many exciting temporary exhibitions, including three major Stella exhibitions and exhibitions of the works of George Segal, Joseph Cornell, Anselm Kiefer and others.

The latest exhibition at the Kawamura is titled "20th-Century American Prints." Most of the prints (excepting those done by sculptors Richard Serra and Claes Oldenburg and graphic artist Andy Warhol) were made by artists whose primary media was painting. All the artists, however, maintained their power and creativity in the print medium.

Although this exhibition includes the early 20th-century American artists John Sloan, Edward Hopper and Thomas Hart Benton, most of the artists represented here are from the second half of the century. In addition to a powerful aesthetic experience, the exhibition offers the viewer an opportunity to learn more about American art history of the latter half of the 20th century and about various printmaking techniques.

It was in this period that the United States became a dominating power in the world art scene, and prints by artists representing all the major art movements of this period are included in the show. In the 1950s the American Abstract Expressionists helped New York City to replace prewar Paris as the world's art center. The Action painters Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning are represented by six silk screens and two lithographs respectively. The prints exhibit the same powerful expressive gestures that can be seen in their paintings.

The exhibit also includes works by Abstract Expressionists Robert Motherwell and Adolph Gottlieb and hard-edge prints by Ellsworth Kelly and Kenneth Noland. Almost all of the most famous Pop artists, including Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jim Dine, Tom Wesselman, Oldenburg and Roy Lichtenstein, are represented, while the New Image art movement of the late '70s and '80s is represented by Susan Rothenberg, Jonathan Borofsky and Jennifer Bartlett.

Particularly interesting are the prints done by American avant-garde composer John Cage. Cage was well known for incorporating elements of chance and Oriental philosophical concepts in his musical compositions. His prints show similar influences. He used the chance effects that appeared on the printing paper when it was exposed to smoke. His freely drawn simple circular forms and the predominance of the space around them evoke memories of Zen ink paintings.

Other outstanding prints are by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauchenberg and Jennifer Bartlett.

After viewing the print show, be sure to see the superb Rothko and Stella works from the museum's permanent collection. If you're hungry visit the museum restaurant for some excellent but inexpensive food. If you have time, take a scenic walk around the beautiful country grounds surrounding the museum.

"20th-Century American Prints," until Aug. 29 at Kawamura Museum. Take that JR Sobu Line from Tokyo or Keisei Line from Ueno to Sakura Station; free museum shuttle bus leaves from the south exit of both stations. For information, call (043) 498-2131.