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Theresa May met Shinzo Abe during an official visit to Japan last year
Britain would be welcome in the TPP trade agreement to "open arms" after its departure from the EU, said the Japanese Prime Minister.
While the UK would lose its bridging role to Europe after Brexit, it would retain its "global strength," Shinzo Abe told the Financial Times.
He also urged the UK and the EU to use "wisdom" to avoid a "no agreement" scenario.
The TPP is a trade agreement between 11 countries, including Japan, Canada, Australia and Malaysia.
US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the deal last year, shortly after entering the White House.
Abe's comments should be welcomed by Brexit supporters, who say that Britain would be able to conclude trade deals more easily outside the EU
The UK must leave the EU on March 29, 2019.
The United Kingdom could join the bloc only if it left the EU customs union and was able to set its own tariffs.
During the interview, Mr. Abe also worried about a non-agreement scenario.
"I hope both sides can bring their wisdom and at least avoid a so-called disorderly Brexit," he said.
He argued that a period of transition was essential for Japanese companies, stating: "I sincerely hope that the negative impact of Brexit on the global economy, including Japanese companies , will be minimized. "
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Japan is a major investor in the UK, where more than 800 Japanese companies employ more than 100,000 people.
However, with the Brexit approach, several Japanese financial companies have announced their intention to move their main European bases to London and electronics giant Panasonic has announced that its European headquarters would be transferred from the United Kingdom to Amsterdam.
