開幕戦(かいまくせん)

A compound of 開幕(かいまく) (opening, raising the curtain) + 戦(せん) (match, game, battle). Originally a theater term (開幕(かいまく) = raising the curtain), now widely used in sports contexts. In Japan, the start of the professional baseball season (開幕(かいまく)) is a significant cultural event each spring.

Common collocations

• 開幕戦(かいまくせん)を飾(かざ)る: to grace the opening game (to win it memorably)
• 開幕戦(かいまくせん)の先発(せんぱつ): starting pitcher/player in the season opener
• 開幕戦(かいまくせん)のチケット: tickets for the opening game

Similar words

• 最終戦(さいしゅうせん): final game — the last game of a season or tournament
• 開幕(かいまく): opening (of a season/event) — the broader concept, not limited to a specific game
• 初戦(しょせん): first match — used for tournament first rounds, while 開幕戦(かいまくせん) refers specifically to the season or series opener