“〜wo hajime・wo hajime to shite”: Starting With / Led By 〜 (a representative example) [JLPT N3]

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

「社長をはじめ、全社員が参加した」 — name the standout first, with the whole group behind it.

「社長をはじめ、全社員が出席した」 — cite one representative, and a whole series follows

「開会式には、社長をはじめ、全社員が出席した」 (at the opening ceremony, led by the president, all employees attended) — 「〜をはじめ（として）」 is used to “cite ～ as a representative (the lead), listing a series of the same kind”: first point out the most representative, most important one, then bring out a whole group of the same kind. This guide covers 「をはじめ」's use and attachment, separating it from 「を中心に」「をきっかけに」 and the associative 「と言えば」.

Core: led by/represented by ～, with a series of the same kind (following)

「(noun) ＋ をはじめ（として）」 = “led by ～, represented by ～ (and … etc.)” — citing a most representative, most important example as the “lead,” implying a whole group of the same kind follows:

• 日本には、富士山をはじめ、美しい山が多い (Japan has many beautiful mountains, Mt. Fuji foremost).
• この店は、ラーメンをはじめとして、和食も充実している (this shop, led by ramen, has a full range of Japanese food).

Feel: “led by ～, and …” — the core is “from a group of the same kind, citing the most representative one as the lead example,” often followed by 「〜など／全〜／様々な〜」 marking “and a whole series.” It's a written, formal way of listing.

Attachment & forms

See it in context

• 会議には、部長をはじめ、多くの社員が参加した。(At the meeting, led by the manager, many employees participated.)
• 京都には、金閣寺をはじめ、有名な寺がたくさんある。(Kyoto has many famous temples, the Golden Pavilion foremost.)
• 校長先生をはじめ、先生方が見送ってくれた。(Led by the principal, the teachers saw us off.)
• ビタミンCをはじめとする栄養素が豊富だ。(It's rich in nutrients led by vitamin C.)
• 日本語をはじめ、三か国語が話せる。(I can speak three languages, Japanese foremost.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「をはじめ」 is ‘the lead example of a list,' not ‘a center' or ‘a starting time.' をはじめ = led by/represented by ～ (citing the most important of a group, with a series following) (富士山をはじめ、山が多い = many mountains, Mt. Fuji foremost); don't confuse it with 「を中心に」 (centered on ～, others around) (富士山を中心に = centered on Mt. Fuji [a geographic core]), nor read 「はじめ」 as “a start in time” — 「をはじめ」's 「はじめ」 is “the (representative) lead, a first example,” not “a temporal beginning” (a temporal start uses 「〜から」). It's specifically for listing. (を中心に: see 〈を中心に〉.)

② The cited one must be ‘a member of the following group, and the most representative.' In 「A をはじめ、B」, A must be the most representative, most important one within the group B. 社長をはじめ、全社員 (the president is the highest-ranking representative within “all employees,” ○); 富士山をはじめ、山 (Mt. Fuji is the most famous representative among “mountains,” ○). If A isn't part of the following group, or isn't representative, をはじめ sounds odd. It's “citing the representative of a group as the lead.”

③ To modify a noun, use 「をはじめとする」. 「をはじめ」 is adverbial listing; to modify a following noun, use 「をはじめとする ＋ noun」: トヨタをはじめとする日本企業 (Japanese firms led by Toyota); 田中さんをはじめとするメンバー. Don't use 「をはじめの」 (×).

🔄 Compare: をはじめ／を中心に／と言えば／など

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜をはじめ（として）」 = led by/represented by ～, its core “from a group of the same kind, citing the most representative, most important one as the ‘lead example,' implying a whole series follows” (社長をはじめ全社員 = the whole staff led by the president; 富士山をはじめ美しい山 = beautiful mountains led by Mt. Fuji). Three points: ① it's ‘a listed representative,' not ‘a center' or ‘a temporal start' — don't confuse it with 「を中心に」 (core); ② the cited one must be a representative of the following group (and part of it); ③ to modify a noun use 「をはじめとする ＋ noun」. The second clause often pairs with 「全〜・各〜・〜など」. To “cite a most-representative lead and bring out a whole group” in formal listing, をはじめ nails it. (Core: 〈を中心に〉; turning point: 〈をきっかけに〉.)

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「をはじめ」 and 「を中心に」 are both 「を ＋ noun」 — same meaning?

No — 「をはじめ」 is ‘listing a representative,' 「を中心に」 is ‘centered on …' — different functions. 「〜をはじめ」 = led by/represented by ～ (citing the most important of a group as the lead example, bringing out a whole series of the same kind, the point being ‘listing'): アジアをはじめ、世界各国から観光客が来る (tourists come from countries worldwide, Asia foremost — Asia is the cited representative within “countries worldwide,” a series follows). It lists a group and uses a representative as the opener. 「〜を中心に」 = centered on ～ (taking something as a core, focus, with others distributing/unfolding around it, the point being ‘core ＋ surroundings'): アジアを中心に、経済が成長している (the economy is growing centered on Asia — Asia is the “core,” growth unfolds around it). It marks a core, others around it. Test: “cite a representative, a whole series of the same kind follows” → をはじめ; “with something as a core, others around it” → を中心に. E.g., 「東京をはじめ、各地で開催」 = held in various places led by Tokyo (listing places, Tokyo as the representative); 「東京を中心に、関東地方に広がる」 = spreading through the Kanto region centered on Tokyo (Tokyo is the core, spreading outward). One “lists a representative,” one “a core outward.”

Q: 「をはじめ」 and 「と言えば」 both cite a representative — how do I tell them apart?

「をはじめ」 is ‘listing a series of the same kind (citing the lead),' 「と言えば」 is ‘drawing an association from a topic (a single representative).' 「〜をはじめ」 = led by/represented by ～, with a whole series of the same kind (following): it's listing — cite a representative in front, a group follows — 日本の観光地は、京都をはじめ、奈良や大阪など、たくさんある (Japan's sights, led by Kyoto, include Nara, Osaka, and many more — listing a series of sights). The point is “a whole series follows.” 「〜と言えば」 = speaking of ～ (it's/reminds of) … (from a topic, drawing the most representative association, usually bringing out just one, for picking up talk/associating): 日本の観光地と言えば、やっぱり京都だね (speaking of Japan's sights, it's Kyoto after all — from “sights” associating the representative “Kyoto”). The point is “drawing an association from a topic,” often in reply or chat, steering to the most representative one. Test: “list a group (led by one)” → をはじめ; “speaking of a topic, one thinks of (a representative)” → と言えば. One “lists a set,” one “associates in reply.” (と言えば: see 〈と言えば〉.)

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「日本___、アジアの多くの国で人気だ。」(with Japan foremost, popular in many Asian countries)

(A) をはじめ　(B) において　(C) にとって　(D) について

Q2. 「先生___とするメンバー」(members headed by the teacher) Which form modifies a noun?

(A) をはじめ　(B) をはじめと　(C) をはじめのに　(D) をはじめで

Q3. 「社長をはじめ、全社員が参加した」の意味は?

(A) Led by the president, all employees participated

(B) Only the president participated

(C) The president didn't participate

(D) Employees stood in for the president

Q4. 「をはじめ」の語感は?

(A) Cites a representative example, implying a whole series of similar ones

(B) Only that one

(C) Indicates contrast/concession

(D) Indicates a reason

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 東京をはじめとする大都市。　(B) 東京をはじめにする。

(C) 東京がはじめとして。　(D) 東京をはじめのに。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) をはじめ ── With Japan as the representative (and others too).

2. (A) をはじめ (をはじめとする) ── To modify a noun, use をはじめとする/とした.

3. (A) ── Led by the president, all participated.

4. (A) ── Cites a representative example, implying a whole series.

5. (A) ── 「をはじめとする＋noun」 is correct.