# を皮切りに: starting with ~; one after another; beginning with ~

> Learn how to use を皮切りに, an N1 grammar meaning starting with ~ and then a series of events, with examples, nuance, comparisons, and practice.

JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-o-kawakiri-ni/

**を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** means **starting with ~; one after another; beginning with ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to mark the first in a sequence of similar events or actions that spread successively from that starting point.

This grammar point often appears in news reports, business announcements, press releases, and formal writing. If you want to express that something begins in one place or time and then similar things happen in many places or times one after another, **を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** is a pattern you’ll need — it adds a natural sense of momentum and sequence to your Japanese.

<div class="pullquote">
<strong>Key idea:</strong> an initial event triggers a chain of related events that follow in succession. The pattern always follows a noun.
</div>

## What does を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に mean?

Use **を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** when you want to say that an action, event, or phenomenon starts at a particular location, moment, or event, and then spreads or repeats in a sequential manner. It is not just a “start” but a first step that leads to a series of similar activities.

Natural translations include:
- starting with ~; one after another; beginning with ~; as a start, then successively; kicking off with ~

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose: are they announcing a tour, a campaign, a series of store openings? Choose the English phrase that fits that context.

## How to form を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に

The pattern attaches only to **nouns**. The most common form is the noun directly followed by を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に（して）. No other conjugation is needed.

<div class="formation">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem">N</span>
  <span class="fplus">＋</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-core">を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に</span>
  <span class="fplus">（して）</span>
</div>

Examples of the pattern:

<div class="formula">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem"><ruby>東京<rp>(</rp><rt>とうきょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  <span class="fplus">＋</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-core">を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に</span>
</div>
<div class="formula">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem"><ruby>新製品<rp>(</rp><rt>しんせいひん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>発表会<rp>(</rp><rt>はっぴょうかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  <span class="fplus">＋</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-core">を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に</span>
</div>

The optional して makes the construction slightly more formal, but both are correct. In JLPT questions, wrong answer choices often try to attach the pattern to a verb or an adjective — be careful.

## When is を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に used?

Use **を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** in situations like:
- announcing a series of concerts, lectures, store openings, or promotional events
- describing a trend that started in one city or market and spread nationwide or globally
- reporting on a sequence of similar developments (e.g. a new product launched in Japan first, then Asia, then worldwide)

Tone and register:
- slightly formal to formal; very common in written Japanese, such as newspaper articles and business documents
- can appear in spoken presentations and announcements, especially when you want to sound polished

Because it implies a planned or observed sequence, it is not used for accidental or random events that happen to occur in a row without a clear connection.

## を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に example sentences

<div class="examples">

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp">
    <ruby>東京<rt>とうきょう</rt></ruby>を<ruby>皮<rt>かわ</rt>切<rt>き</rt>り</ruby>に、<ruby>全国<rt>ぜんこく</rt></ruby>ツアーが<ruby>始<rt>はじ</rt></ruby>まった。
  </div>
  <div class="example-en">Starting with Tokyo, a nationwide tour began.</div>
  <div class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">events</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp">
    <ruby>彼<rt>かれ</rt></ruby>の<ruby>新作<rt>しんさく</rt></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、シリーズ<ruby>作品<rt>さくひん</rt></ruby>が<ruby>次々<rt>つぎつぎ</rt></ruby>と<ruby>公開<rt>こうかい</rt></ruby>された。
  </div>
  <div class="example-en">Beginning with his new film, the series works were released one after another.</div>
  <div class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">media</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp">
    <ruby>大阪<rt>おおさか</rt></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、<ruby>関西<rt>かんさい</rt></ruby>の<ruby>各都市<rt>かくとし</rt></ruby>で<ruby>講演<rt>こうえん</rt></ruby>が<ruby>行<rt>おこな</rt></ruby>われる。
  </div>
  <div class="example-en">Lectures will be held in cities across Kansai, starting with Osaka.</div>
  <div class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">academic</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp">
    この<ruby>商品<rt>しょうひん</rt></ruby>は<ruby>東京<rt>とうきょう</rt></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、<ruby>来月<rt>らいげつ</rt></ruby>から<ruby>全国<rt>ぜんこく</rt></ruby>で<ruby>発売<rt>はつばい</rt></ruby>されます。
  </div>
  <div class="example-en">This product will be released nationwide from next month, starting with Tokyo.</div>
  <div class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">business</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp">
    <ruby>新<rt>あら</rt></ruby>しい<ruby>企画<rt>きかく</rt></ruby>は<ruby>首都<rt>しゅと</rt></ruby><ruby>圏<rt>けん</rt></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、<ruby>順次<rt>じゅんじ</rt></ruby><ruby>地方<rt>ちほう</rt></ruby>へ<ruby>展開<rt>てんかい</rt></ruby>します。
  </div>
  <div class="example-en">The new project will be rolled out to regional areas in stages, starting with the Tokyo metropolitan area.</div>
  <div class="example-foot">
    <span class="example-tag">business</span>
  </div>
</div>

</div>

In each case, the noun before を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に is the very first step, and the rest of the sentence describes the chain that follows.

## Nuance of を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に

The key nuance is **a starting point that triggers a visible, sequential spread**.

This matters because learners often treat it as just “beginning with,” but it carries a stronger sense of momentum and succession. The pattern implies that the initial event is not isolated — it sets off a series that is expected or planned.

For example:
- If a singer says <ruby>東京<rp>(</rp><rt>とうきょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>全国<rp>(</rp><rt>ぜんこく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ツアー, the emphasis is not only on Tokyo being first, but on the idea that the tour will then move to city after city in a predictable chain.
- If you only want to say “I started at Tokyo Station and then went somewhere,” を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に would be too strong. You’d use a simple time-sequence expression instead.

Compared with similar patterns, を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に sounds more deliberate and systematic. It is perfect for press releases, business plans, and news reports.

<div class="note-callout">
  <div class="note-icon">💡</div>
  <div class="note-body">
    <strong>Think of dominoes:</strong> the first one (the noun marked with を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に) falls and makes the rest fall in order. That visual helps you remember both the sequence and the planned nature of the events.
  </div>
</div>

## を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に vs をきっかけに

Both **を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** and **をきっかけに** can express that something starts with a particular trigger, but they are different in important ways.

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp a">
    <div class="cmp-head">を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">a chain of similar events</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">Use for planned, sequential spread of an activity or event. The starting point is followed by multiple instances of the same kind of thing.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>大阪<rp>(</rp><rt>おおさか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、<ruby>全国<rp>(</rp><rt>ぜんこく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>５<ruby>都市<rp>(</rp><rt>とし</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で<ruby>説明<rp>(</rp><rt>せつめい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>会<rp>(</rp><rt>かい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>行う<rp>(</rp><rt>おこなう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">Starting with Osaka, we’ll hold briefings in five cities nationwide.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="cmp b">
    <div class="cmp-head">をきっかけに</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">a trigger for change</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">Use for any change, realization, or new situation that begins because of a single event. No sequence of repetitions is implied; it’s about a pivot point.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>留学<rp>(</rp><rt>りゅうがく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をきっかけに、<ruby>海外<rp>(</rp><rt>かいがい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で<ruby>働く<rp>(</rp><rt>はたらく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ことを<ruby>決め<rp>(</rp><rt>きめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">Studying abroad triggered my decision to work overseas.</div>
  </div>
</div>

If you say <ruby>東京<rp>(</rp><rt>とうきょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に when you really mean <ruby>東京<rp>(</rp><rt>とうきょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>での<ruby>経験<rp>(</rp><rt>けいけん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をきっかけに, the listener will expect a chain of events that may not exist. Always check: is there a clear series of similar activities after the first? If yes, を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に is your pattern.

## Common mistakes with を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に

Watch out for these mistakes:

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>動く<rp>(</rp><rt>うごく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>走り<rp>(</rp><rt>はしり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>出し<rp>(</rp><rt>だし</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>歩き<rp>(</rp><rt>あるき</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>出す<rp>(</rp><rt>だす</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>のをきっかけに<ruby>走り<rp>(</rp><rt>はしり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>出し<rp>(</rp><rt>だし</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。 (using a verb with を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に is incorrect; use をきっかけに instead)</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に only follows nouns. If you need to attach it to an action, nominalize it or choose another pattern.</div>
  </div>

  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>一言<rp>(</rp><rt>ひとこと</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、<ruby>会話<rp>(</rp><rt>かいわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>が<ruby>終わっ<rp>(</rp><rt>おわっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>一言<rp>(</rp><rt>ひとこと</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をきっかけに、<ruby>会話<rp>(</rp><rt>かいわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>が<ruby>終わっ<rp>(</rp><rt>おわっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。 (no sequence follows; one remark simply ended the conversation)</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">If there is no chain of similar events, を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に doesn’t fit.</div>
  </div>

  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>雨<rp>(</rp><rt>あめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に、たくさん<ruby>降り<rp>(</rp><rt>ふり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>続い<rp>(</rp><rt>つづい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>雨<rp>(</rp><rt>あめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>が<ruby>降り<rp>(</rp><rt>ふり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>始め<rp>(</rp><rt>はじめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>てから、ずっと<ruby>降り<rp>(</rp><rt>ふり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>続い<rp>(</rp><rt>つづい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。 (natural phenomena don’t fit the planned‑sequence nuance)</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に works best for human‑organized or observable sequential events, not random natural processes.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Is を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N1</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <div class="jlpt-checks">
      <p><strong>Frequency:</strong> moderate — appears in reading sections and grammar‑choice questions.</p>
      <p><strong>Test focus:</strong> distinguishing from をきっかけに and recognizing the series‑of‑events meaning.</p>
    </div>
    <p>On the JLPT N1, を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に is tested in context. You’ll see it in passages about business expansion, event announcements, or cultural trends. A typical question asks you to choose the correct particle phrase or to understand why a series occurred.</p>
  </div>
</div>

## Practice questions for を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">
      A company opens a pilot store in Shibuya, then plans to open 20 more stores across Japan. Write a sentence starting with <strong>Shibuya</strong> and using を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">
      A musician announces a world tour beginning in London. Use <strong>London</strong> and を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に to announce the tour.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">
      Think of a trend that started in one prefecture and then spread nationwide. Write a sentence with the prefecture name and を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">4</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">
      Compare を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に and をきっかけに. Write two short sentences about the same starting event — one that implies a chain reaction, and one that implies a single change.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the sequential nuance becomes clear.

## Learning path for を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に

To learn **を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">1</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      Master the attachment rule: only nouns, never verbs or adjectives. Write five nouns that could be the start of a sequence (city names, event types, product launches).
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">2</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      Compare with をきっかけに by taking the same noun and writing two sentences — one with を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に and one with をきっかけに — and explain why the meanings differ.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">3</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      Read news articles or press releases in Japanese. Highlight every を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に and note the sequence of events that follows. Notice how often it appears in business and entertainment contexts.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">4</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      Write a short announcement for an imaginary product launch or concert tour, using を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に at least twice. Then read it aloud to internalize the formal tone.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [を<ruby>踏まえ<rp>(</rp><rt>ふまえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>て](/blog/n1-o-fumaete/) — because it also uses the ~を pivot to build a sentence around prior information
- [を<ruby>経<rp>(</rp><rt>へ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>て](/blog/n1-o-hete/) — because it also marks a pathway or sequence of stages before a result
- [を<ruby>控え<rp>(</rp><rt>ひかえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>て](/blog/n1-o-hikaete/) — because it also situates an event relative to a subsequent action or situation
- [を<ruby>良い<rp>(</rp><rt>よい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ことに](/blog/n1-o-ii-koto-ni/) — because it shares the を + noun structure and adds a nuance of taking advantage of a situation

## Learn を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に with Hane

If you want to review **を<ruby>皮切り<rp>(</rp><rt>かわきり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)