を皮切りに
Beginning of, Starting with
Structure
Verb［る］(2) + の + を皮切りにして(1)
(1) を皮切りとして
(2) Verb［た］
Explanation
を皮切りに is a grammar pattern that attaches to nouns to indicate the start of a series of actions or events that subsequently unfolded or expanded. In English, を皮切りに is most often translated as 'starting with (A)' or 'beginning with (A)'.
This structure is formed by the object particle を, the noun 皮切り, meaning 'a start' or 'a beginning', and the particle に. It is used after a noun or a nominalized phrase to introduce the first event in a chain of similar, often escalating, occurrences.
- このレストランは東京店を皮切りに、次々と全国に支店を出した。Starting with its Tokyo location, this restaurant successively opened branches all across the country.
- その作家は最初の小説を皮切りに、人気作家の道を歩み始めた。Beginning with that first novel, the author started down the path of becoming a popular writer.
- 田中くんの質問を皮切りに、他の生徒からも手が上がった。Following Tanaka-kun's question, other students began to raise their hands as well.
- その会社が新しいスマホを発売したのを皮切りに、ヒット商品を連発した。Starting with the release of their new smartphone, that company put out one hit product after another.
The particles にして and として can also be used in place of に, creating common variations of this grammar point without changing the core meaning.
- そのバンドは大阪公演を皮切りにして、夏の全国ツアーを始める。Kicking off their summer tour with a performance in Osaka, the band will travel all over the country.
- このアニメは日本での放送を皮切りとして、世界８０か国で公開された。Beginning with its broadcast in Japan, this anime was released in 80 countries worldwide.
Caution
This grammar point is seldom used for negative outcomes or natural occurrences. The subsequent events are typically positive developments initiated by a person or group.
Fun Fact
While 皮切り simply means 'start' or 'beginning' in this context, its kanji offer a useful mnemonic. 皮 means 'skin' or 'hide', and 切り means 'to cut'. This evokes the image of making an initial cut in a hide, from which one continues to cut outwards, mirroring how this grammar describes an event that expands from a single starting point.
Examples
このスマートフォンの発売を皮切りとして、次々と革新的な製品が生み出された。
Starting with the release of this smartphone, a series of innovative products were created one after another.
最初のデモを皮切りとして、全国で環境保護を訴える運動が広がった。
Starting with the first demonstration, a movement appealing for environmental protection spread across the country.
彼女は新人賞を受賞したのを皮切りにして、国際的な映画祭でも賞を獲得した。
Starting with winning the newcomer award, she went on to win prizes at international film festivals as well.
一本目の動画がバズったのを皮切りにして、彼のチャンネルは急成長した。
Starting with his first video going viral, his channel grew rapidly.
この会社はペットボトルのリサイクルを始めたのを皮切りにして、様々な資源のリサイクルに取り組んでいる。
Starting with recycling PET bottles, this company has gone on to tackle the recycling of various resources.
有名デザイナーはパリを皮切りに、ロンドン、ニューヨークで新作を発表する予定だ。
Starting in Paris, the famous designer plans to announce their new collection in London and New York.
その条例は北海道を皮切りに、全国の自治体に広まっていった。
Starting with Hokkaido, that ordinance spread to local governments all across the country.
A議員の逮捕を皮切りに、政界の汚職が次々と明るみに出た。
Starting with the arrest of Diet member A, political corruption scandals were revealed one after another.
一人の観客が拍手し始めたのを皮切りに、会場全体から大きな拍手が沸き起こった。
Starting with one audience member who began to clap, a huge round of applause erupted from the entire venue.
そのカフェチェーンは韓国への出店を皮切りに、アジア市場へ積極的に進出している。
Starting with the opening of a store in South Korea, that cafe chain is actively expanding into the Asian market.
彼のブログでの紹介を皮切りに、その村の小さな祭りは全国から観光客が訪れるようになった。
Starting with his introduction of it on his blog, that village's small festival began to attract tourists from all over the country.
彼女が国内記録を更新した事を皮切りに、次々と世界記録を塗り替えていった。
Starting with her breaking the national record, she went on to rewrite world records one after another.