beginning of a book/magazine; opening pages
Refers specifically to the front matter or opening section of a publication, such as the first few pages or the start of the content.
その雑誌の巻頭には、編集長の挨拶が載っている。
The editor-in-chief's greeting appears at the beginning of the magazine.
A short story by a famous writer graced the opening pages of this month's issue.
beginning of a matter; start
Extended figurative use for the start or opening phase of an event, project, or story. Less common than the publishing sense.
物語の巻頭で、主人公はまだ普通の学生だった。
At the beginning of the story, the protagonist was still an ordinary student.
The magazine ran a feature article in its opening pages.
Compound of 巻 (kan, 'volume; scroll') and 頭 (tō, 'head; beginning'), literally 'head of the scroll'. The reading かんとう is the on'yomi of both characters.