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Formation: N + をはじめ／をはじめとして, (others); N + をはじめとする／をはじめとした + N

Names X as the most important or representative member of a group and then refers to the rest, often with など, 多く or さまざまな. It is about which item you mention first, not about order in time. It is rather formal and is typical of speeches, greetings and writing, as in 社長をはじめ社員一同 (the president and all staff). Compare 〜を皮切りに, which marks the first in a series of events in time, and 〜はもちろん, which stresses that X goes without saying. 〜を中心に points to the center of a spread or group, not the leading item in a list.

Variants: 〜をはじめとして、〜をはじめとする、〜をはじめとした、〜を始め

Examples

• 京都には金閣寺をはじめ、多くの名所がある。
  Kyoto has many famous sights, starting with Kinkakuji.
• 社長をはじめ、社員一同心より感謝申し上げます。
  All of us, from the president down, offer our heartfelt thanks.
• 日本をはじめとするアジア各国で高齢化が進んでいる。
  Populations are aging across Asia, with Japan leading the way.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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