Japanese PM Abe asks May for 'smooth Brexit' for business

By Guy Faulconbridge and Kate HoltonLONDON (Reuters) - Japanese leader Shinzo Abe asked Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday to ensure a smooth Brexit to allow Japanese companies to continue to operate as the United Kingdom exits the European Union.The leader of the world's third largest economy praised PM May for what he said were attempts to secure Brexit transparency and a transitional period to ease the United Kingdom's exit from the EU that is scheduled for March 2019.Since the shock June 2