This is the 788th most frequent Japanese word.
明治
"Meiji" - The era of Japanese history from 1868 to 1912 marked by modernization and Westernization.
Here, '明治' is used as part of '明治時代' to refer to the Meiji era, a historical period in Japan.
明治時代は日本の近代化が進んだ時期です。
The Meiji era was a period when Japan modernized.
'明治' in this context refers to 'Meiji,' a well-known Japanese company name.
このお菓子は明治ブランドの製品です。
This sweet is a product of the Meiji brand.
Here, '明治' refers to 'Meiji University,' a prestigious educational institution in Japan.