Next up, the U.S. After three decades of spectacular growth, China passed Japan in the second quarter to become the world’s second-largest economy behind the U.S., according to government figures released early Monday. The recognition came early Monday, when Tokyo said that Japan’s economy was valued at about $1.28 trillion in the second quarter, slightly below China’s $1.33 trillion. Japan’s economy grew 0.4 percent in the quarter, Tokyo said, substantially less than forecast. That weakness ...