をはじめ

をはじめ is used to indicate that the thing mentioned is the starting point of a larger group or list. It emphasizes that what follows is part of a broader set, often introducing examples and implying there are more items beyond the first one. It can connect to phrases like 〜とする or 〜とした to show inclusion of other items. Typical contexts are introductions of locations, participants, or examples, and it often appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause. Example nuance: Tokyoをはじめ、日本全国で祭りが開かれている means festivals are held nationwide, with Tokyo being the starting point; other regions are involved as well. Examples below illustrate common patterns and usage.