Meiji

American  

[mey-jee] / ˈmeɪˈdʒi /

noun

Japanese History.

1. the designation of the period of the reign of Emperor Mutsuhito from 1868 to 1912.

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Meiji British  

/ ˈmeɪˈdʒiː /

noun

1. Japanese history the reign of Emperor Mutsuhito (1867–1912), during which Japan began a rapid process of Westernization, industrialization, and expansion in foreign affairs

2. the throne name of Mutsuhito (ˌmuːtsʊˈhiːtəʊ). 1852–1912, emperor of Japan (1867–1912)

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Etymology

Origin of Meiji

1870–75; < Japanese meiji, earlier meidi enlightened peace < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese míng bright + zhì pacify

Example Sentences

Europe today faces the same choices Japan did before the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

This gap in understanding led researchers at Kyoto University and Meiji University to investigate whether supernova remnants might hold the missing clues.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

Last November, a 65-year-old American tourist was arrested on suspicion of scrawling graffiti onto a wooden gate at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo.

From BBC • Jul. 27, 2025

But two sisters, descendants of a disgraced samurai clan, want that box too, and the imperial secret placed within it by Emperor Meiji.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2024

Campaign of the 37th and 38th years of Meiji.

From The Postage Stamp in War by Melville, Fred. J.