Time, Sequence, and Aspect
Starting a Series of Developments
The formal grammar pattern ～を皮切りに, read as “o kawakiri ni,” marks the starting point of an active, spreading series of events. It is used when a single initial event acts as a catalyst for a chain of similar, escalating developments, such as a nationwide tour or a business expansion. Because it implies an active rollout or trend, it is not used for uncontrollable natural phenomena or simple step-by-step instructions.
01Main Functions
Marking the Start of a Tour or Campaign
This pattern is frequently used to announce the first location or event in a planned series, such as a concert tour or a promotional campaign.
東京での公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Starting with the performance in Tokyo, the nationwide tour began.
Describing a Business Expansion
In formal business contexts, it marks the initial step of a strategic expansion, where one success leads to many more similar actions.
大阪支店の開設を皮切りにして、全国に店舗を拡大していく予定だ。
Starting with the opening of the Osaka branch, (we) plan to expand (our) stores nationwide.
Highlighting a Spreading Trend
It can also describe a single action or remark that sparks a chain reaction of similar behaviors from other people.
彼の発言を皮切りとして、次々と新しい意見が出た。
Starting with his remark, new opinions came out one after another.
02Sentence Pattern
noun + を皮切りに + clause (location series)
この映画の公開を皮切りに、関連イベントが次々と開催される。
Starting with the release of this movie, related events will be held one after another.
The pattern attaches directly to a noun representing the initial event or action.
noun + を皮切りにして
先日のデモを皮切りにして、抗議活動が全国に広がった。
Starting with the demonstration the other day, protest activities spread nationwide.
This is a slightly more formal variant of the core pattern. It carries the exact same meaning and usage constraints.
noun + を皮切りとして
新商品の発売を皮切りとして、海外市場への進出を目指す。
Starting with the launch of the new product, (we) aim to expand into overseas markets.
Another formal variant, commonly found in official business statements, news reports, and written plans.
verb (た form) + の + を皮切りに
彼がプロジェクトの成功を発表したのを皮切りに、お祝いの言葉が相次いだ。
Starting with him announcing the project's success, words of congratulation poured in one after another.
When the starting point is described by a full verb clause, use the past-tense verb followed by the noun substitute の to turn it into a noun phrase.
noun + を皮切りに + clause (event series)
バンドは東京を皮切りに、五つの都市でコンサートを行った。
Starting in Tokyo, the band held concerts in five cities.
A classic use case for this grammar point: Describing the chronological first stop in a sequence of locations, such as a musical tour.
noun + を皮切りに
夏祭りを皮切りに、この町では様々な行事が続く。
Starting with the summer festival, various events will continue in this town.
Used to mark the chronological beginning of a season of related activities or a series of community events.
noun + を皮切りにして + clause
雑誌への寄稿を皮切りにして、彼女は作家としてのキャリアを築いていった。
Starting with contributing to a magazine, she built her career as a writer.
Used to describe the very first professional step that sparked an expanding, continuous series of career achievements.
03Example Sentences
東京での公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Starting with the performance in Tokyo, the nationwide tour began.
The pattern attaches directly to a noun representing the initial event or action.
大阪支店の開設を皮切りにして、全国に店舗を拡大していく予定だ。
Starting with the opening of the Osaka branch, (we) plan to expand (our) stores nationwide.
This is a slightly more formal variant of the core pattern.
彼の発言を皮切りとして、次々と新しい意見が出た。
Starting with his remark, new opinions came out one after another.
Another formal variant, commonly found in official business statements, news reports, and written plans.
この映画の公開を皮切りに、関連イベントが次々と開催される。
Starting with the release of this movie, related events will be held one after another.
The subsequent events are of the same kind, implying a planned sequence.
先日のデモを皮切りにして、抗議活動が全国に広がった。
Starting with the demonstration the other day, protest activities spread nationwide.
Illustrates a spreading societal trend sparked by a single initial event.
新商品の発売を皮切りとして、海外市場への進出を目指す。
Starting with the launch of the new product, (we) aim to expand into overseas markets.
Highly appropriate for business expansions and project rollouts.
彼がプロジェクトの成功を発表したのを皮切りに、お祝いの言葉が相次いだ。
Starting with him announcing the project's success, words of congratulation poured in one after another.
When the starting point is described by a full verb clause, use the past-tense verb followed by the noun substitute の.
バンドは東京を皮切りに、五つの都市でコンサートを行った。
Starting in Tokyo, the band held concerts in five cities.
A classic use case for this grammar point: Describing the chronological first stop in a sequence of locations.
夏祭りを皮切りに、この町では様々な行事が続く。
Starting with the summer festival, various events will continue in this town.
Used to mark the chronological beginning of a season of related activities or a series of community events.
雑誌への寄稿を皮切りにして、彼女は作家としてのキャリアを築いていった。
Starting with contributing to a magazine, she built her career as a writer.
Used to describe the very first professional step that sparked an expanding, continuous series of career achievements.
社長が辞任を表明したのを皮切りに、役員たちが次々と辞めていった。
Starting with the president announcing (his) resignation, the executives quit one after another.
Shows a chain reaction of similar behaviors sparked by an initial verb clause.
その小さな IT 企業の買収を皮切りとして、彼らは次々と会社を吸収していった。
Starting with the acquisition of that small IT company, they absorbed companies one after another.
Describes an aggressive business strategy spreading from a single starting point.
アジア大会での金メダルを皮切りに、彼は世界的な大会で連勝記録を伸ばした。
Starting with the gold medal at the Asian Games, he extended (his) winning streak in global tournaments.
Used to express the beginning of a string of successes or achievements.
04Comparisons
～を皮切りに vs. ～をはじめ
Both patterns can translate to "starting with" or "beginning with" in English, but their functions are completely different. ～をはじめ is used to highlight a primary or representative example of a larger category or group. In contrast, ～を皮切りに is used to mark the chronological first event in a planned series, an escalating chain reaction, or a spreading trend.
校長先生をはじめ、先生方全員が式に出席した。
Starting with the principal, all the teachers attended the ceremony.
東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Starting with the Tokyo performance, the nationwide tour began.
～を皮切りに vs. ～てから
～てから simply means "after doing X" and is used for a standard chronological sequence of actions. ～を皮切りに is much more dramatic; it specifically emphasizes that the first event is the catalyst for a continuous series of similar developments. It sounds unnatural if used for an unrelated, one-off action.
東京に着いてから、友達に会った。
After arriving in Tokyo, (I) met a friend.
東京支店の開設を皮切りに、全国に店舗を拡大した。
Starting with the opening of the Tokyo branch, (we) expanded stores nationwide.
05Nuance and Usage
The term 皮切り, meaning “kawakiri,” originally comes from the traditional medical practice of moxibustion (お灸). It refers to the first, often most painful, burning of the skin before subsequent treatments become easier or more routine. In modern Japanese grammar, the pattern ～を皮切りに has evolved to mean the initial catalyst or opening act that sets a larger, spreading series of events into motion.
When using this pattern, there is a strong sense of escalation or momentum. The implication is not just that things happen one after another, but that the first event sparks a chain reaction, a viral trend, or a rapid business expansion. For this reason, the events that follow the catalyst must share the same active nature or direction as the first event.
Because of its dramatic and formal undertone, ～を皮切りに is almost exclusively reserved for written language or highly formal speech. You will encounter it in news broadcasts, public announcements, and corporate strategy meetings. It sounds extremely unnatural when applied to casual daily routines (like running errands) or uncontrollable passive occurrences (like the weather).
06Core Explanation
The formal grammar pattern ～を皮切りに, read as “o kawakiri ni,” marks the starting point of an active, spreading series of events.
The advanced grammar pattern ～を皮切りに indicates that a specific event is the starting point for a chain reaction of similar, continuous developments. It paints a picture of a catalyst sparking a spread, an escalation, or a planned rollout, rather than just marking a point in time. It is a highly formal expression frequently used in news broadcasts, business announcements, and formal speeches.
Structurally, it attaches directly to nouns that represent events, actions, or starting locations. If you need to describe the starting point with a full verb clause, you must use a past-tense verb (た form) followed by the noun substitute の before adding を皮切りに. The variants を皮切りにして and を皮切りとして function exactly the same way, simply adding a slightly more structured tone to formal sentences.
A key constraint of this pattern is that the events following the catalyst must be of the same kind, implying a spread or a series. For example, if a band plays in Tokyo and then plays in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, the Tokyo concert is the catalyst for the rest of the tour. You cannot use this pattern to simply say 'after doing X, (I) did Y' if the two actions are unrelated or if there is no sense of an ongoing series.
Furthermore, ～を皮切りに is almost exclusively reserved for active, intentional developments, human actions, or societal trends. It sounds unnatural when applied to uncontrollable natural phenomena. You would not use it to say 'starting with the rain, a storm began,' because the pattern requires an active sense of unfolding events rather than passive natural occurrences.
While it is often translated as 'starting with', it is important not to confuse it with ～をはじめ. The pattern ～をはじめ is used to give a primary, representative example of a category (like 'starting with the principal, all the teachers were there'), whereas ～を皮切りに specifically marks the chronological first event in an escalating series of active developments.
07Common Mistakes
Wrong
昼ごはんを食べたのを皮切りに、図書館に行った。
Correct
昼ごはんを食べてから、図書館に行った。
Why: ～を皮切りに requires a continuing chain of similar events or an escalating trend, not a single daily action. Use ～てから for a simple sequence.
Wrong
大雨を皮切りに、風が強くなった。
Correct
大雨が降ってから、風が強くなった。
Why: ～を皮切りに is reserved for active developments, human actions, or planned events. It cannot be used for uncontrollable natural phenomena like weather.
Wrong
社長が辞任したを皮切りに、役員たちが次々と辞めていった。
Correct
社長が辞任したのを皮切りに、役員たちが次々と辞めていった。
Why: When attaching to a verb clause, you must turn the verb into a noun phrase using the noun substitute の before adding を皮切りに.
Wrong
彼が発表するのを皮切りに、次々と意見が出た。
Correct
彼が発表したのを皮切りに、次々と意見が出た。
Why: Because the starting event has already occurred or initiated the chain reaction, verb clauses usually take the past-tense (た form).
Wrong
東京公演皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Correct
東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Why: This grammar pattern functions as a fixed phrase and strictly requires the を particle before 皮切りに.
Wrong
東京での公演ののを皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Correct
東京での公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。
Why: The pattern attaches directly to a noun. You only need the noun substitute の when attaching it to a verb clause.
08Questions
Can I use ～を皮切りに for my daily routine, like "Starting with breakfast, I will read a book"?
No. ～を皮切りに requires the subsequent events to be a continuous series or an expanding chain reaction of similar actions. For simple sequential actions, use ～てから, meaning “after doing X,”.
What is the difference between を皮切りに and をはじめ?
While both can translate to "starting with," ～をはじめ is used to give a primary or representative example from a group (e.g., "Starting with the principal, all teachers were there"). ～を皮切りに specifically marks the first chronological event in a developing sequence (e.g., "Starting with the Tokyo concert, the nationwide tour began").
Why do I need の when using a verb with を皮切りに?
The phrase を皮切りに grammatically attaches to nouns. To attach it to an action (a verb clause), you must first turn that clause into a noun phrase. The particle の acts as a noun substitute, changing "he announced it" into "the event of him announcing it."
Can I use を皮切りに for bad events, like a series of accidents?
Yes, as long as it forms a chain reaction or an expanding trend of similar events. For example, a single mistake sparking a series of complaints or a small incident leading to a string of protests fits the pattern perfectly, provided the events involve human actions or societal developments.
09Mini Practice
- 01
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence. （ ）、全国ツアーが始まった。
- 02
Choose the correct form to attach the verb phrase to the pattern. 彼がプロジェクトの成功を（ ）、お祝いの言葉が相次いだ。
- 03
Which grammar point correctly highlights the principal as a representative example of a group? 校長先生（ ）、先生方全員が式に出席した。
- 04
Is this sentence a natural way to say "After eating breakfast, I went to school"? 朝ごはんを食べたのを皮切りに、学校へ行きました。
- 05
Is this sentence natural for describing a formal business expansion? 大阪支店の開設を皮切りに、全国に店舗を拡大していく予定だ。
- 06
Translate this sentence into Japanese: "Starting with the summer festival, various events will continue in this town."
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 07
Which form is correct for describing an uncontrollable natural event? 大雨が（ ）、風が強くなった。
- 08
Choose the correct formal variant to complete the sentence. 先日のデモを（ ）、抗議活動が全国に広がった。
Summary
Learner Summary
- The formal grammar pattern ～を皮切りに marks the chronological first event in a series of similar, continuous developments.
- It carries the nuance of an active chain reaction, a spreading trend, or a planned rollout, such as a concert tour or a business expansion.
- It attaches directly to nouns (noun + を皮切りに) or to past-tense verb clauses using the noun substitute の "verb (た form) + の + を皮切りに".
- The events following the starting point must be similar in nature to the first event, implying a sequence or escalation.
- It cannot be used for uncontrollable natural phenomena like the weather or for a single subsequent action in a simple daily routine.
- Formal variants include ～を皮切りにして and ～を皮切りとして, which share the exact same meaning and usage constraints.
10Study Map
Study Info
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