But the news marks the end of era. For nearly two generations, since overtaking West Germany in 1967, Japan stood solidly as the world's no. 2 economy.

但这一消息标志着一个时代的1967年日本超过当时的西德成为世界第二大经济体，自那以后的数十年一直不曾动摇。

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In Japan itself, the East Asian state has installed 484mw of solar power systems in 2009, overtaking the US for the third place in annual capacity additions.

在日本，2009年东亚国家安装484 MW太阳能发电系统，超过了美国年生产能力，跃居第三名。

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Under his administration China has seen a decade of rapid development, overtaking Japan as the world's second-largest economy.

BBC: China confirms leadership change

It is already overtaking Japan as the largest exporter to the United States.

BBC: Chinese man walking past WTO wall mural

Measured by flows, India is overtaking China as Japan's biggest destination for foreign investment and, according to a survey by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation, will be the most favoured destination for long-term Japanese investments over the next decade.

ECONOMIST: Banyan