On Theresa May's first official visit to Japan starting Wednesday, the British prime minister is expected to provide words of encouragement to dispel investors' doubts about headwinds caused by Brexit and condemnation against North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests.

May, accompanied by a large British trade delegation, arrived in Osaka Wednesday afternoon before heading to Kyoto for an informal dinner with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She and her entourage then boarded a bullet train for the nation's capital, Tokyo.

Formal talks were to begin Thursday and are expected to focus on issues surrounding Brexit and bilateral economic cooperation, as well as increased defense ties and security issues, especially those involving East Asia and the South China Sea.