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jono84-
Long time since I read the article (I think originally on Cycling Tips?) but I believe they're just the standard Rival calipers, and that they might have a little more clearance than some other short reach calipers. I'm using Chorus 12 calipers with mine (same fork) with plenty of clearance for a 30c tyre and maybe a little more.
Tychom
Maybe there's some second-hand current-gen Ritchey Road Logic frames around?
They can fit a 30/32c tyre in depending on the brake callipers and compared to a lot of frames around these days they're not too expensive, and they ride quite nicely too. Paint is pretty bland though unless you stumble across the special edition red-white-and-blue team colours.
Gearing, maybe 105 or Tiagra + a sub-compact crankset (11-34 & 46x30), or a bit spendy, Chorus 12 - 11-34 & 48x11.
I've something similar in Tochigi prefecture for similar roads - a lot of bad backroads particularly after storms, steep climbs and broken tarmac - and for overnight / get-aways by train.
I had the older Ritchey but it lacked tyre clearance, so because I'm a tart I had something built the way I wanted for those roads using that same current gen Ritchey fork, tyre clearance, 3rd bottle cage.
I just use bike-packing bags with it, and have thought about something like the Jack-the-Rack for something heavier up front like going to the pizza shop.
I use the Montbell rinko bag and find it's small enough to easily pack in a saddle bag or smaller frame / bar bag. There's obviously smaller still but quite expensive options out there too to pack lighter.
Sometimes though, you really just need a gravel bike or walk...