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Definition
The grammar pattern "名詞 + を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして" is used to indicate that one event triggers a succession of similar events or activities. It implies that the first action was the start of a series or a momentum. This pattern is often used to describe a chain of events that follow a particular incident or occurrence. It can also be used to highlight the significance of an event as a starting point for a series of subsequent events.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | 名詞 + を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして | 劇団の東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。 |
| Noun (Topic Marker) | ～を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして | 東京公演を皮切りに、劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。 |
| Noun (Object Marker) | 名詞を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして | 劇団の東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。 |
Examples
東京公演を皮切りに、劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。
Tokyo kōen o kisagiri ni, gekidan no zenkoku tsuā ga hajimatta.
Starting with the Tokyo performance, the theater company's national tour began.
東京公演 (Tokyo performance) + を皮切りに (to start with) + 劇団の全国ツアー (theater company's national tour) が始まった (began)
彼の大ヒット作を皮切りに、多くの名作が生み出された。
Kare no daihittu sakuhin o kisagiri ni, takai mei-sakuhin ga umiidasareta.
Starting with his big hit work, many masterpieces were born.
彼の大ヒット作 (his big hit work) + を皮切りに (to start with) + 多くの名作が生み出された (many masterpieces were born)
一人の選手が抗議の声を上げたことを皮切りに、次々と賛同者が現れた。
Ichi-nin shūshin ga kōi no koe o ageta koto o kisagiri ni, tsugi-tsugi to sanjōsha ga arawareta.
Starting with one player raising a protest voice, supporters appeared one after another.
一人の選手が抗議の声を上げたことを (one player raised a protest voice) + 皮切りに (to start with) + 次々と賛同者が現れた (supporters appeared one after another)
Context
This pattern is used to describe a chain of events that follow a particular incident or occurrence. It can also be used to highlight the significance of an event as a starting point for a series of subsequent events. The pattern is often used in formal or written Japanese. In informal or spoken Japanese, the pattern may be replaced with a simpler phrase, such as "～から始まった".
Watch out
This pattern implies a sequence of events, so it cannot be used for a single event without a sequence following.
This pattern implies a positive sequence of events, so it cannot be used for negative cycles.
～をきっかけに is a general trigger pattern, while を皮切りに is used to describe a chain of events.
Strategy
Pay attention to the context and the sequence of events when using this pattern. Make sure to use the correct pattern depending on the context.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N1 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 名詞 + を皮切りに（して） / を皮切りとして used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
東京公演を皮切りに、この劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。
Pattern used: を皮切りに
～を皮切りに is used for the first of a series of events like a tour.
彼の大ヒット作を皮切りに、その後も多くの名作が生み出された。
Pattern used: を皮切りに
～を皮切りに implies a series of similar productive acts (producing more works).
一人の選手が抗議の声を上げたのを皮切りに、次々と賛同者が現れた。
Pattern used: のを皮切りに
The protest of one person starting a wave of protests is well-described by ～を皮切りに.
Interactive
東京公演______、この劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.