“〜wo kawakiri ni”: Starting With 〜 (then unfolding in succession) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「東京を皮切りに全国ツアーが始まった」 — one event kicks off a spreading chain.

「東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった」 — the first shot fired, then a chain reaction

Concert news often reads: 「東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった」 (starting with the Tokyo show, a national tour began) — 「〜を皮切りに」 = starting with ～, with ～ as the first shot, meaning “taking some event as the start, a series of similar things unfold one after another afterward.” It's mostly for the starting point of a series of activities or developments, with the momentum of “unfolding unstoppably.” This guide covers its use and how to tell it from 「をはじめ」「を機に.」

Core: with ～ as the first shot, then unfolding in succession

「noun ＋ を皮切りに（して）」 means “taking ～ as the start, the first, then a series of similar things follow in succession”:

• 東京を皮切りに、全国十都市で公演する (starting with Tokyo, perform in ten cities nationwide).
• 彼の告発を皮切りに、次々と証言が出てきた (starting with his accusation, testimonies emerged one after another).

「皮切り」 originally means “the first needle (of moxibustion),” extended to “the start, the first shot.”

Feel: “starting with ～, the first shot” — the core is “some event is the first of a series of similar events, after which they unfold one after another.” The main clause is mostly a series of things happening “in succession, one after another” (a tour, store openings, protests, announcements), with the momentum of “unfolding from here, unstoppably,” mostly for positive or neutral expansion.

Attachment rules

See it in context

• 一号店の開店を皮切りに、チェーンは全国に広がった。(Starting with the first store's opening, the chain spread nationwide.)
• 彼女のデビューを皮切りに、次々とスターが誕生した。(Starting with her debut, stars were born one after another.)
• 一人の内部告発を皮切りに、不正が次々と明るみに出た。(Starting with one whistleblower, wrongdoing came to light one after another.)
• 大阪公演を皮切りに、ツアーは半年間続いた。(Starting with the Osaka show, the tour lasted half a year.)
• 値上げは、電気料金を皮切りに、各分野へ広がった。(Price hikes, starting with electricity, spread to every sector.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① What follows must be ‘a series of things happening in succession,' not a single event. The core of 「を皮切りに」 is “this is the first shot of a series of similar events, unfolding in succession afterward.” So the main clause must be a series of things happening “in succession, one after another” — 全国ツアー (show after show), 次々と証言 (testimonies one after another), 各地に拡大 (spreading everywhere). It foregrounds the momentum of “from this starting point, continually extending/expanding.” If what follows is merely a single, isolated event (with no “unfolding in succession”), 「を皮切りに」 doesn't fit. Test: is what follows “(from this start,) a series of things happening in succession”? Yes → を皮切りに applies (東京を皮切りに全国ツアー = starting with Tokyo, show after show).

② 「皮切り」 = the first, the start, stressing ‘the first shot of a series.' The word 「皮切り（かわきり）」 itself means “the start, the very first, the first one” (originally the first needle of moxibustion). So 「を皮切りに」 stresses “some event as the ‘first,' the starting point of a series,” with the momentum of “firing the first shot, then a chain reaction.” It differs from a plain 「最初に (first)」 — 「を皮切りに」 isn't just “the first,” but also implies “a series of similar things will unfold in succession afterward.” So it's mostly for describing the starting point of a series of activities, developments, events (a tour, store openings, a wave of protests, a chain reaction), with narrative tension.

③ Mostly for positive or neutral ‘unfolding,' with momentum. 「を皮切りに」 is usually for positive or neutral expansion, development — a series of performances, store openings, successes, events, announcements, with the positive momentum of “unfolding vigorously, unstoppably”: デビューを皮切りに、活躍が続く (starting with the debut, continued success). But it can also be for a chain of (neutral or negative) successive events: 一つの事件を皮切りに、次々と問題が噴出した (starting with one incident, problems erupted one after another). What they share is the sense of “from here, a series unfolds in succession.” Test: to describe “with ～ as the first shot, then a series of similar things unfolding in succession” (with momentum) → を皮切りに. It has more narrative tension of “a series unfolding” than 「〜から始まって.」

🔄 Compare: を皮切りに／をはじめ／を機に／から始まって

💡 How to remember this

「〜を皮切りに」 = starting with ～, the first shot — three points: ① what follows must be ‘a series unfolding in succession' — not a single event, but “from this start, one after another” (東京を皮切りに全国ツアー = starting with Tokyo, show after show); ② 「皮切り」 = the first, the start, stressing “the first shot of a series,” with the momentum of “setting off a chain reaction”; ③ mostly for positive/neutral vigorous unfolding (a tour, store openings, success), and also for a chain of successive events. Comparing relatives: to “list a representative” use 〈をはじめ〉, for “on the occasion of ～” use 「を機に」, for “beginning from ～” use 「から始まって.」 This pattern suits narrating the starting point of a series of activities or events, with more “unfolding unstoppably” tension than a plain 「〜から始まった.」

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「を皮切りに」 and 「をはじめ」 both carry an ‘with ～ as (start/head)' flavor — how do I tell them apart?

The difference is “unfolding in succession over time” vs “listing a representative.” 「〜を皮切りに」 = starting with ～ (temporally, a series of similar things unfolds in succession afterward): stresses “some event is the ‘first shot' of a series, and from it, they unfold/happen one after another,” with temporal sequence and “continually extending” momentum: 東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが行われた (starting with the Tokyo show, tours were held nationwide — a show-after-show temporal unfolding), 一号店を皮切りに、次々と店舗が増えた (starting with the first store, stores increased one after another). Its focus is “from this, a series of (temporally successive) events unfolds.” 「〜をはじめ（として）」 = starting with ～, ～ etc. (listing, giving a representative from a group): stresses “～ is the representative/foremost of this group, and there are others of the kind too,” a listing, exemplifying, not stressing temporal sequence or “unfolding in succession”: 社長をはじめ、全社員が参加した (everyone including the president participated — listing “president” as representative, others too), 東京をはじめ、大阪や名古屋でも販売 (sold in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, etc. — listing representative cities). Its focus is “giving a representative, implying others of the kind.” Test: to say “with ～ as the first shot, then (temporally) a series unfolding in succession” → を皮切りに (stressing the unfolding process); to say “with ～ as representative/foremost, and others too” → をはじめ (stressing listing a representative). E.g. 「開幕戦を皮切りに、リーグ戦が続く (starting with the opener, a series of league games — temporal unfolding)」 uses を皮切りに; 「日本をはじめ、アジア各国で人気 (popular in Japan and other Asian countries — listing a representative)」 uses をはじめ.

Q: Does 「を皮切りに」 always need a series after it? Can it take just one event?

What follows must be ‘a series unfolding in succession,' not just a single isolated event — the core restriction of 「を皮切りに.」 It means “with ～ as the start (first shot), then a series of similar things happen in succession afterward,” so the main clause must carry the sense of “in succession, continually, one after another, expanding,” to foreground “a series unfolding from this start”: ○ 東京を皮切りに、全国二十都市を回った (starting with Tokyo, toured twenty cities nationwide — a series of shows after), ○ 最初の抗議を皮切りに、デモが各地に広がった (starting with the first protest, demonstrations spread everywhere — successive spreading). These main clauses are all “a series, unfolding in succession.” Conversely, if what follows is merely a single, isolated, non-continuing event, 「を皮切りに」 doesn't fit: × 東京を皮切りに、公演した (only did the Tokyo show, no follow-up — unnatural, since there's no “unfolding in succession”). There, use 「〜から始まって」 or a plain 「まず〜.」 So the test: is what follows “from this start, a series of things unfolding in succession”? Yes → を皮切りに applies; just a single event → doesn't apply. It's inherently a pattern for describing “a series unfolding,” and without the “unfolding in succession” follow-up it doesn't hold. Common follow-up patterns: 全国ツアー (a tour), 次々と (one after another), 各地に広がる (spreading everywhere), 続々と (in succession), 〜を重ねる (repeatedly), all carrying the “successive, continuing” momentum.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「大阪___、各都市でイベントが開催される。」(starting with Osaka, unfolding one after another)

(A) を皮切りに　(B) について　(C) にとって　(D) によって

Q2. What is characteristic of the second clause of 「を皮切りに」?

(A) a successive, continuous, expanding development (a chain of events)

(B) a single static state

(C) adversative

(D) a command

Q3. What does 「東京を皮切りに全国ツアー」 mean?

(A) Starting with Tokyo, a nationwide tour unfolds

(B) Only in Tokyo

(C) Avoiding Tokyo

(D) Tokyo is the final stop

Q4. What is the difference between 「を皮切りに」 and 「をはじめ」?

(A) を皮切りに = a starting point + a chain of developments; をはじめ = citing a representative example

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) を皮切りに = citing a representative example

(D) をはじめ = a chain of developments

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 初日を皮切りに連日満員だ。　(B) 初日を皮切りにのに。

(C) 初日が皮切りる。　(D) 初日を皮切りをして。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) を皮切りに ── Starting with Osaka, unfolding one after another.

2. (A) ── A successive, expanding chain of developments.

3. (A) ── Starting with Tokyo, a tour unfolds.

4. (A) ── を皮切りに a starting point + a chain; をはじめ citing a representative example.

5. (A) ── 「初日を皮切りに」 is correct.