皮切り

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 皮切り (かわきり) is an idiomatic noun for the opening event that launches a sequence.
• Basic usage: It marks a Tokyo performance starting a tour or a morning lecture opening a full day of events.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A starting point for what follows
  • を皮切りに does more than rank something first; it presents that event as the trigger or opening of a continuing series.