Japan's Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday that for the first time in 34 years, Japan lost its status as the world's largest creditor country and was replaced by Germany, although Japan's total external asset balance rose to a record high, in part due to a weakening yen, Internet reported. As of the end of last year, Japan's external net asset balance increased by 12.9% compared with the same period last year to 533.05 trillion yen (US$3.7 trillion), exceeding 500 trillion yen for the first time, but lower than Germany's 569.65 trillion yen. Japan's Ministry of Finance said the weakening of the yen had boosted the value of Japan's foreign currency assets, including stocks, bonds and other assets when converted into local currency, adding that Germany benefited from a large current account surplus. Driven by direct investment in the United States by domestic financial institutions and trading companies, Japan's total external assets increased by 11.4% to 1,659.22 trillion yen. External liabilities increased by 10.7% to 1,125.97 trillion yen. (Jin Shi)