“〜wo kawakiri ni”: Starting With 〜 (then unfolding in succession) [JLPT N2]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
One event serving as the start, with things unfolding in succession afterward.
“〜wo kawakiri ni”: Starting With 〜 (then unfolding in succession)
「(noun) ＋ を皮切(かわき)りに」 means “starting with 〜, beginning from 〜 (then unfolding in succession)” — one event serves as the starting point, after which things unfold in succession, expanding continuously. E.g. 「大阪を皮切りに、各都市でイベントが開催される」 (starting with Osaka, events are held in cities one after another), 「東京を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった」 (starting with Tokyo, the nationwide tour began). It stresses a chain reaction and expanding development from a starting point, common for tours, events, and incidents unfolding in succession — a written, formal expression.
🧠 Core nuance: from this starting point, things unfold one after another, continuously
The core is one event as a starting point, after which things happen in succession, continuously, expandingly: one event (the opening show, opening day, a city) serves as the start, after which a series of things unfold one after another (Tokyo first → nationwide tour, opening day first → packed for days). It stresses a starting point ＋ an expanding chain of development, the latter clause usually a series of ‘successive, continuous, gradual' events. ⚠️ Contrast with 「をはじめ」: 「を皮切りに」 = a starting point ＋ unfolding in succession (stressing the chain, a temporal start); 「をはじめ」 = giving a representative example (with 〜 as the foremost, listing similar items, no chain stress). E.g. 東京を皮切りに全国ツアー (Tokyo start → successive tour) vs 東京をはじめ各地 (Tokyo as representative, listing places). Connection: noun ＋ を皮切りに. 「皮切り」 originally means the first needle in acupuncture, extended to ‘the start.'
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ を皮切りに | starting with 〜 (unfolding in succession) | 大阪を皮切りに |
| noun ＋ を皮切りとして | same (more written) | 初日を皮切りとして |
| (followed by) successive events | a chain of development | 〜を皮切りに、続々と〜 |
💬 Example Sentences
- 大阪を皮切りに、全国各地でイベントが開催される。(Starting with Osaka, events are held across the country in succession.) — unfolding in succession
- 東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。(Starting with the Tokyo show, the nationwide tour began.) — tour
- 初日を皮切りに、連日満員の大盛況だ。(Starting from opening day, it's been packed for days, a huge success.) — continuous
- 一人の発言を皮切りに、次々と意見が出た。(Starting with one person's remark, opinions came out one after another.) — chain
- この事件を皮切りに、各地で抗議が広がった。(Starting with this incident, protests spread across regions.) — expansion
🔄 Compare: を皮切りに vs をはじめ vs から vs を機に
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜を皮切りに | “starting with 〜” (starting point ＋ unfolding in succession) | 東京を皮切りに全国ツアー |
| 〜をはじめ | “with 〜 as the foremost” (representative example, listing) | 東京をはじめ各地 |
| 〜から | “from 〜” (starting point, general) | 月曜から始まる |
| 〜を機に | “taking 〜 as an opportunity” (a turning point) | 結婚を機に退職 |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Confusing with をはじめ: を皮切りに = starting point ＋ unfolding in succession (chain); をはじめ = giving a representative example (listing), no chain stress.
- Followed by successive events: after を皮切りに the latter clause must be ‘successive, gradual' unfolding, not a single static state.
- Connection: noun ＋ を皮切りに (✗ verb directly).
- Written style: を皮切りに leans written and formal, common in reporting.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
を皮切りに means “starting with 〜, beginning from 〜 (then unfolding in succession),” with one event as the start, after which things unfold in succession, expandingly (Tokyo first → nationwide tour, opening day first → packed for days). It stresses a starting point ＋ an expanding chain, the latter clause usually a series of successive events. ⚠️ Distinguish from the representative-example をはじめ (with 〜 as the foremost): を皮切りに stresses ‘a start triggering successive development.' A written, formal expression, common in tour, event, and incident reporting. A must at N2.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N2: noun ＋ を皮切りに = starting with 〜 (starting point ＋ successive, continuous, expanding development).
- Core distinction: を皮切りに (starting point ＋ chain development) vs をはじめ (representative example, listing).
- Latter clause: a series of successive, gradual development; written, formal use.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「大阪___、各都市でイベントが開催される。」（以大阪為開端，接連展開）
(A) を皮切りに (B) について (C) にとって (D) によって
Q2. 「を皮切りに」の後件の特徴は?
(A) 接連、連續、擴大的發展（一連串）
(B) 單一靜止的狀態
(C) 逆接
(D) 命令
Q3. 「東京を皮切りに全国ツアー」の意味は?
(A) 以東京為開端，展開全國巡演
(B) 只在東京
(C) 避開東京
(D) 東京是最後一站
Q4. 「を皮切りに」と「をはじめ」の違いは?
(A) を皮切りに＝起點＋連鎖展開;をはじめ＝舉代表例
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) を皮切りに＝舉代表例
(D) をはじめ＝連鎖展開
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(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。
答案解析
1. (A) を皮切りに ── 以大阪為開端接連展開。
2. (A) ── 接連、擴大的一連串發展。
3. (A) ── 以東京為開端展開巡演。
4. (A) ── を皮切りに 起點＋連鎖;をはじめ 舉代表例。
5. (A) ── 「初日を皮切りに」正確。