Chapter 6 — Starting Point and Inclusion Particles

Chapters 4 and 5 covered compound particles that mark topics, attitudes, bases, and ranges. This chapter completes Part Two with a third family: compound particles that mark inclusion and starting points. These particles answer questions like: "What is the representative example?" "What is the center of this activity?" "What else is included?" "What additional element should be mentioned?"

These expressions are the workhorses of promotional writing, program descriptions, catalogs, informational brochures, and presentations — any context where the speaker needs to enumerate, highlight, or expand a list. They also appear frequently in news and academic writing when the author wants to signal that a list is representative rather than exhaustive, or that additional factors are being layered in.

If the compound particles of Chapters 4 and 5 are the architecture of formal sentences, the particles in this chapter are the furniture — they organize the content inside those sentences, telling the reader what comes first, what is central, what is added, and what should be taken for granted.

6.1 をはじめ（として）— "Starting With, Including"

Formation

Noun + をはじめ (before a list or continuation) Noun + をはじめとして (slightly more formal variant) Noun + をはじめとする + Noun (prenominal form)

をはじめ is built from を plus はじめ (始め, "beginning"). It means "starting with X" or "X and others like it" — it introduces the most prominent or representative member of a group, with the implication that there are more.

Core Usage

東京を　はじめ、大阪、名古屋など　大都市の　人口が　増えている。 "Starting with Tokyo, the populations of major cities such as Osaka, Nagoya, and others are increasing."

日本料理は　寿司を　はじめ、天ぷらや　ラーメンなど、世界中で　人気がある。 "Japanese cuisine — starting with sushi, tempura, ramen, and others — is popular worldwide."

校長先生を　はじめ、多くの　先生方が　出席した。 "Starting with the principal, many teachers attended."

この　博物館には、絵画を　はじめ、彫刻や　陶芸など　さまざまな　作品が　展示されている。 "In this museum, starting with paintings, various works including sculpture and ceramics are on display."

をはじめとして / をはじめとする

The longer form をはじめとして is interchangeable with をはじめ but slightly more formal. をはじめとする is the prenominal form.

中国を　はじめとして、アジアの　多くの　国が　参加した。 "Starting with China, many Asian countries participated."

アメリカを　はじめとする　先進国が　この　条約に　署名した。 "Developed nations, starting with America, signed this treaty."

日本語を　はじめとする　東アジアの　言語を　研究している。 "I am researching East Asian languages, starting with Japanese."

Key Point: Representative, Not Exhaustive

をはじめ always implies "and others." The item marked with をはじめ is the most notable or prominent example, not the only one. If you only mean one item, をはじめ is inappropriate.

○ 英語をはじめ、フランス語やドイツ語も話せる。 (English as the primary one, plus others.) × 英語をはじめ話せる。 (Incomplete — をはじめ demands a group.)

6.2 を中心に / を中心として — "Centered On"

Formation

Noun + を中心に (before a verb phrase) Noun + を中心として (slightly more formal) Noun + を中心にした + Noun / Noun + を中心とした + Noun (prenominal forms)

を中心に is built from を plus 中心 (ちゅうしん, "center") plus に. It means "centered on X," "with X as the center," or "mainly X." It identifies the core or focal point of an activity, group, or phenomenon.

Core Usage

駅を　中心に　商店街が　広がっている。 "A shopping district extends with the station at its center."

若者を　中心に、SNSの　利用が　増えている。 "Centered on young people, the use of social media is increasing." (= mainly among young people)

このイベントは　地元の　ボランティアを　中心に　運営されている。 "This event is run mainly by local volunteers."

東京を　中心に　活動している　アーティストだ。 "An artist who is active mainly in Tokyo."

文法を　中心に　日本語を　勉強している。 "I am studying Japanese with a focus on grammar."

を中心として / を中心とした

大学を　中心として　研究が　進められている。 "Research is being advanced centered on the university."

家族を　中心とした　生活を　送っている。 "I lead a life centered on family."

環境問題を　中心とした　議論が　行われた。 "Discussion centered on environmental issues was conducted."

Physical vs Abstract

を中心に works for both physical centers (a geographic location around which something spreads) and abstract centers (a topic, group, or focus around which activity is organized).

公園を　中心に　住宅地が　広がっている。 (Physical — housing spreads around the park.) 経済問題を　中心に　会議が　行われた。 (Abstract — the meeting focused on economic issues.)

6.3 に加えて — "In Addition To"

Formation

Noun + に加えて (before a verb phrase or continuation) Noun + に加え (slightly more formal, truncated form common in writing)

に加えて is built from に plus the て-form of 加える (くわえる, "to add"). It means "in addition to X" — it signals that X is already established, and now something more is being added.

Core Usage

英語に　加えて、フランス語も　話せる。 "In addition to English, she can also speak French."

学費に　加えて、生活費も　かかる。 "In addition to tuition, living expenses are also incurred."

品質の　良さに　加えて、価格の　安さも　人気の　理由だ。 "In addition to good quality, low prices are also a reason for its popularity."

経験に　加えて、専門的な　知識も　必要だ。 "In addition to experience, specialized knowledge is also needed."

国内の　問題に　加えて、国際的な　課題にも　対応しなければならない。 "In addition to domestic issues, we must also address international challenges."

に加え (Truncated Form)

In formal writing, に加え (without て) is common. The meaning is identical.

円安に　加え、原材料費の　高騰が　企業を　圧迫している。 "In addition to the weak yen, the soaring cost of raw materials is putting pressure on companies."

人口減少に　加え、高齢化も　進んでいる。 "In addition to population decline, aging is also advancing."

に加えて vs それに / その上

に加えて is more formal than それに (moreover) or その上 (on top of that). In casual speech, それに is the natural choice. In writing and formal presentations, に加えて sounds polished and precise.

Casual: 英語が話せる。それに、フランス語も話せる。 Formal: 英語に加えて、フランス語も話せる。

6.4 はもちろん — "Of Course, Not to Mention"

Formation

Noun + はもちろん（、Noun + も）

はもちろん is built from the topic particle は plus もちろん (勿論, "of course, naturally"). It means "X goes without saying, and Y as well" — it establishes X as an obvious given and then adds Y as an additional (sometimes surprising) element.

Core Usage

日本語は　もちろん、英語も　上手だ。 "She is good at Japanese, of course, and English too."

大人は　もちろん、子供にも　人気がある。 "It is popular with adults, of course, and with children too."

味は　もちろん、見た目も　美しい　料理だ。 "The taste goes without saying, and the appearance is also beautiful — that kind of dish."

国内は　もちろん、海外でも　有名だ。 "Famous domestically, of course, and internationally as well."

読むことは　もちろん、書くことも　大切だ。 "Reading goes without saying, but writing is also important."

Structure: はもちろん...も

The standard pattern is A はもちろん、B も [predicate]. A is presented as the obvious element; B is the additional one. The predicate applies to both.

平日は　もちろん、休日も　働いている。 "Working on weekdays goes without saying — he works on holidays too."

東京は　もちろん、地方の　大学にも　留学生が　増えている。 "In Tokyo of course, but the number of international students is increasing at regional universities too."

はもちろん vs だけでなく

はもちろん and だけでなく (not only) are similar in function, but はもちろん adds the nuance of "this much is obvious." だけでなく is more neutral.

英語だけでなく、フランス語も話せる。 (Not only English — neutral addition.) 英語はもちろん、フランス語も話せる。 (English, of course — implies English ability is already known or expected.)

6.5 のみならず — "Not Only" (Formal)

Formation

Noun + のみならず Verb (plain form) + のみならず い-adjective + のみならず な-adjective + である + のみならず

のみならず is built from のみ (a literary equivalent of だけ, "only") plus ならず (the classical negative of なる — "not being"). It means "not only X (but also Y)" and is the formal, written equivalent of だけでなく. It appears in essays, editorials, academic writing, and speeches.

Core Usage

この問題は　日本のみならず、世界中の　国々が　直面している。 "Not only Japan, but countries around the world are facing this problem."

経済的な　面のみならず、文化的な　面でも　影響がある。 "There is an impact not only in economic terms but also in cultural terms."

学生のみならず、社会人にも　役に立つ　内容だ。 "The content is useful not only for students but also for working adults."

この　薬は　効果が　あるのみならず、副作用も　少ない。 "This medicine is not only effective but also has few side effects."

人口が　減少しているのみならず、高齢化も　進んでいる。 "Not only is the population declining, but aging is also advancing."

のみならず vs だけでなく vs はもちろん

All three can often replace each other in meaning. The choice is driven by register.

Casual: 日本だけでなく、他の国も同じ問題を抱えている。 Semi-formal: 日本はもちろん、他の国も同じ問題を抱えている。 Formal: 日本のみならず、他の国も同じ問題を抱えている。

6.6 をもとに — "Based On, Using X as Source Material"

Formation

Noun + をもとに (before a verb phrase) Noun + をもとにして (slightly more explicit variant) Noun + をもとにした + Noun (prenominal form)

をもとに is built from を plus もと (元/基, "origin, source, basis") plus に. It means "based on X" or "using X as the source/starting material." It implies that X is the raw material or inspiration from which something new is created.

Core Usage

実話を　もとに　映画が　作られた。 "A movie was made based on a true story."

この　小説は　歴史的な　事件を　もとに　書かれている。 "This novel is written based on a historical event."

アンケートの　結果を　もとに　計画を　立てた。 "We made a plan based on the results of the questionnaire."

先生の　アドバイスを　もとに　レポートを　書き直した。 "I rewrote the report based on the teacher's advice."

伝統的な　技術を　もとに、新しい　製品を　開発した。 "We developed a new product based on traditional techniques."

をもとにした (Prenominal Form)

実話を　もとにした　ドラマが　放送されている。 "A drama based on a true story is being broadcast."

統計データを　もとにした　分析が　必要だ。 "Analysis based on statistical data is needed."

市民の　声を　もとにした　政策を　作るべきだ。 "Policies based on the voices of citizens should be created."

をもとに vs に基づいて

Both mean "based on," but they differ in nuance:

Compare:

実話をもとに映画を作った。 (The true story was the raw material — transformed into a movie.) 法律に基づいて判断した。 (The law was the governing authority — followed as a rule.)

アンケートをもとに計画を立てた。 (The survey data was the starting material for the plan.) 調査結果に基づいて対策を決めた。 (The investigation results were the authoritative basis for the decision.)

The distinction is not always sharp — some sentences work with either. But the prototypical uses differ: をもとに for creation, に基づいて for governance.

をもとに vs を参考に

を参考に (をさんこうに, "using X as reference") is close in meaning but weaker. を参考に means "I looked at X and it helped." をもとに means "X was the foundation from which I built."

この本を参考にレポートを書いた。 (I used this book as a reference — one of many inputs.) この本をもとにレポートを書いた。 (This book was the primary source my report was built on.)

6.7 Reading Passage

The following passage is written in the style of a Japanese promotional or informational text — the kind you might find in a university program brochure, a city tourism guide, or an event description.

　本プログラムは、日本文化をはじめとする東アジアの文化を幅広く学ぶことを目的としている。語学の授業はもちろん、歴史や社会に関する講義に加えて、実際の体験活動も充実している。

　授業内容は、学生の関心を中心に組み立てられる。たとえば、伝統的な茶道や書道のみならず、現代のポップカルチャーやアニメ文化についても学ぶことができる。また、過去の参加者の声をもとに、毎年プログラムの内容を改善しており、参加者の満足度は年々高まっている。

　活動の場は東京を中心としているが、京都や奈良をはじめ、地方の都市への研修旅行も予定されている。日本語が初級の学生はもちろん、上級の学生にとっても新しい発見がある内容となっている。日本語の能力に応じて、初級・中級・上級のクラスに分かれるため、どのレベルの学生でも安心して参加できる。

　このプログラムを通じて、参加者は日本文化への理解を深めるのみならず、国際的な視野を広げることができるだろう。

Translation

This program aims to broadly study the cultures of East Asia, starting with Japanese culture. In addition to language classes, of course, and lectures on history and society, hands-on experiential activities are also well-developed.

The curriculum is organized centered on students' interests. For example, not only traditional tea ceremony and calligraphy, but also contemporary pop culture and anime culture can be studied. Furthermore, based on the voices of past participants, the program's content is improved every year, and participant satisfaction is rising year by year.

Activities are centered mainly in Tokyo, but study trips to regional cities, starting with Kyoto and Nara, are also planned. The content offers new discoveries not only for students at the beginner level of Japanese, of course, but also for advanced students. Because students are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes in accordance with their Japanese ability, students of any level can participate with confidence.

Through this program, participants will likely not only deepen their understanding of Japanese culture but also broaden their international perspective.

6.8 Vocabulary List