Artist's commentary
It felt like you'd get all the letters by combining the First and Second Iroha Hill Roads. I didn't recall which corners omitted letters, so I just made it up for the strip.
Back in the day, when I drove up this hill in my Wagon R, it didn't have any power at all and barely made it to the top. It was so bad that I had to let trailing cars pass me at several points. The car I have now handles it just fine.
Incidentally, I hear the Marisa person came up this road by bicycle. Incredible!