It is a long and convoluted story. 1964 Tokyo Olympics - organized by Abe's grandfather - then Japan PM (yes, Japan is democracy but political establishment is hereditary) - are seen as a start of Japan's economic miracle.
https://www.ft.com/content/d6142984-194b-11e3-83b9-00144feab...
https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/09/05/the-1964-toky...