N1#n1#grammar#formal#sequence

N1 Integrated Dialogue Lesson 4

Mastering the N1 grammar pattern ～を皮切りに (o kawakiri ni) to express the starting point of a series of events.

Context

A New Business Initiative

In a corporate setting, you often hear about projects that trigger a chain reaction of developments. Imagine a company announcing a new product line that serves as the catalyst for a nationwide expansion.

When a specific event or action acts as the starting point for a series of subsequent, related occurrences, Japanese speakers use a specialized structure to highlight that initial 'spark'.

Explanation

The Grammar: ～を皮切りに

The pattern ～を皮切りに (o kawakiri ni) indicates that one event served as the beginning of a sequence of similar events.

Nounを皮切りに

The word 'kawakiri' (皮切り) literally refers to the first cut or the start of something. When used with 'o', it emphasizes that the preceding noun is the trigger for a series of developments that follow.

This pattern is formal and typically used in written reports, news, or professional presentations to describe a progression of events starting from a clear point of origin.

Tip

The events that follow must be of the same nature or category as the starting event. You would not use this for unrelated occurrences.

Examples

Usage Examples

Observe how this structure links the initial event to the subsequent expansion.

東京公演(とうきょうこうえん)を皮切りに(をかわきりに)、全国ツアー(ぜんこくつあー)が始まった。

Starting with the Tokyo performance, the nationwide tour began.

東京公演とうきょうこうえんTokyo performanceを皮切りにをかわきりにstarting with全国ツアーぜんこくつあーnationwide tour

この新商品(しんしょうひん)を皮切りに、次々と(つぎつぎと)ヒット作が生まれた。

Starting with this new product, hit works were produced one after another.

新商品しんしょうひんnew product次々とつぎつぎとone after another

Which sentence correctly uses ～を皮切りに?

朝食を皮切りに、雨が降ってきた。
✓ この支店を皮切りに、海外展開を加速させる予定だ。
勉強を皮切りに、テレビを見た。

Option 2 is correct because it describes a series of related business expansions starting from one point. The others link unrelated events.

Usage

Nuance and Register

This pattern is strictly for formal contexts. It implies a sense of momentum.

～を皮切りに vs ～から始まって

～を皮切りに

Formal; implies a chain reaction of similar events.

Aを皮切りにBが続いた。

～から始まって

Neutral; simple sequence of events.

Aから始まってBになった。

In which context is ～を皮切りに most appropriate?

Casual conversation with friends
✓ A formal corporate press release
Writing a diary entry

It is a formal, professional expression suitable for reports or public announcements.

Deep dive

Advanced Variations

Variations of this grammar point exist for slightly different nuances.

You may occasionally see '～を皮切りとして' (o kawakiri to shite). This is grammatically interchangeable with '～を皮切りに' and carries the same formal weight.

Summary

Lesson Summary

The pattern ～を皮切りに is an essential N1 tool for describing the inception of a series of related events in formal Japanese.

皮切り

かわきりnoun

start/beginning

公演

こうえんnoun

performance

全国

ぜんこくnoun

nationwide

次々と

つぎつぎとadverb

one after another

展開

てんかいnoun

development/expansion