starting with; beginning from

を皮切りに marks the first in a series of events that then expands or continues. Attach it to a noun; the modifying form is を皮切りとして. The starting point triggers a spreading sequence of similar events.

Examples

• 東京とうきょう公演こうえんを皮切かわきりに、全国ぜんこくツアーが始はじまった。

  Toukyou kouen o kawakiri ni, zenkoku tsuaa ga hajimatta.

  Starting with the Tokyo show, the nationwide tour began.

• 彼かれの発言はつげんを皮切かわきりに、議論ぎろんが白熱はくねつした。

  Kare no hatsugen o kawakiri ni, giron ga hakunetsu shita.

  Beginning with his remark, the debate grew heated.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 始まる to begin (intransitive)
• 彼 he, him
• 発言 statement, remark
• 議論 argument, discussion
• する to do

Related patterns · Immediacy and timing

• 〜が早いか as soon as; no sooner than
• 〜なり as soon as; the moment
• 〜そばから no sooner than; as fast as (repeatedly)
• 〜や否や as soon as; the instant