Can Node.js replace java as server side technology in web app

I am planning to start making my first big web project. I am currently at the point where I am trying to visualize everything but some of the technologies will be learned on the run. I recently picked up JavaScript and learned a bit of Node.js.

I wanted to make a rest API in java, that connects to a Mysql database. After doing some unwanted research, I came across a statement which to me seem bold. That node.js can in some way other backend technologies?

For what i know Node.js is a runtime envioronment based of chromes JavaScript engine, with some libraries like NPM. (which I yet have to look into some more)

That was a long introduction, the core of my question is: Can Node.js replace Java in my case, and if so why and how?