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Formation: N + を皮切りに / を皮切りにして / を皮切りとして

X is the first in a series of similar events or actions that then follow one after another and spread out: concert tours, store openings, a run of statements or incidents. The main clause therefore describes development or expansion, often with words like 次々と, 相次いで or 各地で. It is common in news and other written reports, and also used in formal speech. Compare 〜をはじめ（として), which names a representative member of a group (東京をはじめ大都市では), not the first event in a time sequence. 〜を機に and 〜をきっかけに mark the trigger for a change, not the first item of a series.

Variants: 〜を皮切りにして、〜を皮切りとして

Examples

• 東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まる。
  The nationwide tour kicks off with a show in Tokyo.
• 同社はパリを皮切りに、欧州各地に次々と出店した。
  Starting with Paris, the company opened stores across Europe one after another.
• 彼の発言を皮切りにして、参加者から次々と意見が出た。
  His remark started things off, and opinions came one after another from the participants.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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