This is the 9489th most frequent Japanese word.
米谷
"米谷" (Kometani) is a Japanese surname meaning "rice valley."
In this sentence, '米谷' is used as a surname indicating a specific individual's name.
米谷さんは優しい人です。
Mr. Kometani is a kind person.
Here, '米谷' is referred to specifically as a name, discussing its rarity or characteristics.
米谷という名前は珍しいですね。
The name Kometani is unusual, isn't it?
In this sentence, '米谷' is used as a proper noun naming a location, specifically a station's name.