1.
raising of the curtain; opening of a performance
The literal raising of the curtain at the start of a theatrical performance.
幕開けは午後6時だ。
The curtain rises at 6 PM.
幕開けから観客を引きつける舞台だった。
It was a performance that captivated the audience from the opening.
華やかな演出で幕開けを飾った。
The opening was adorned with a spectacular production.
2.
beginning; start; dawn of a new era
Figuratively, the start of something significant such as a new period, movement, or chapter in history.
新しい時代の幕開けだ。
It is the dawn of a new era.
この発明が産業革命の幕開けとなった。
This invention marked the beginning of the industrial revolution.
日本の近代化の幕開けは明治維新にさかのぼる。
The dawn of Japan's modernization can be traced back to the Meiji Restoration.
USAGE:
幕開け originally refers to the raising of a theater curtain. It is now widely used figuratively to mean the start of a significant new period or era.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 幕開けを飾る (to mark the opening)
- 新しい時代の幕開け (the dawn of a new era)
- 幕開けとなる (to serve as the beginning)
SIMILAR WORDS:
開幕 also means the start of a performance or event but is more commonly used for sports seasons, festivals, or formal events. 幕開け is preferred for figurative uses describing historical or cultural turning points.