continental adventurer; Japanese adventurer in mainland Asia (Meiji to end of WWII)
Historical term for Japanese who roamed mainland China and other parts of Asia from the Meiji era to the end of WWII, often involved in political activities, espionage, smuggling, and similar ventures.
Among the continental adventurers, there were those who engaged in political activities in China.
His grandfather roamed various parts of Asia as a continental adventurer before the war.
浪人 refers broadly to a masterless samurai or, in modern usage, a student who has failed entrance exams and is preparing to retake them. 大陸浪人 specifically denotes adventurers who operated on the Asian continent during a particular historical period.
Compound of 大陸 (continent) and 浪人 (wandering samurai or person without fixed employment), referring to Japanese who became adventurers on the Asian mainland during the late 19th to mid-20th century.