Japatan
Formation
- N + を皮切りに
- N + を皮切りにして
- N + を皮切りとして
Explanation
A を皮切りに B means that A is the first of a series of similar things that follow one after another and spread. It is used for fairly large-scale or growing events such as concert tours, store openings, opinions in a meeting, or festivals. It is not used for small everyday matters like what you ate for breakfast.
Examples
そのバンドは東京 を皮切りに、全国20の都市でコンサートを行う。
Starting in Tokyo, the band will give concerts in 20 cities nationwide.
駅前の一号店 を皮切りに、その会社は次々と新しい店を開いた。
Beginning with its first store in front of the station, the company opened one new store after another.
田中さんの発言 を皮切りにして、会議ではさまざまな意見が出た。
Starting with Mr. Tanaka's comment, all kinds of opinions came up in the meeting.
この町では、春の花祭り を皮切りとして、一年中いろいろな行事が開かれる。
In this town, beginning with the spring flower festival, various events are held all year round.
Notes
をはじめ names a typical example, while を皮切りに marks the first in a time sequence, with the sense that things expanded from there.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1新製品は来月、アジア（ ）世界各国で発売される予定だ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 を皮切りに
The sentence means: Starting with Asia, the new product will be released around the world next month. をめぐって means concerning, に反して means contrary to, and をこめて means with feeling.
2「〜を皮切りに」の使い方が正しい文はどれか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 昨年の大阪公演を皮切りに、その劇団は海外でも公演するようになった。
4 means: Starting with its Osaka show last year, the theater company began performing abroad too. 1 is a small daily matter, 2 is an intention, and 3 states a cause.
3彼の小説は英語への翻訳を皮切り（ ）、多くの言語に翻訳された。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 に
The fixed form is N を皮切りに. The sentence means: Starting with an English translation, his novel was translated into many languages.
