The Nisshin Maru is a Japanese factory ship, primarily used for whaling. It is a very controversial vessel due to its involvement in the Japanese whaling program.
"Drawing Restraint 9" was filmed on a different Japanese factory ship, the Seiyo Maru, which was actually a tuna fishing vessel.
Barney's film explores themes of consumption, transformation, and the relationship between art and industry. The use of the Seiyo Maru as a backdrop for this exploration is significant, as the ship represented a powerful symbol of Japanese industry and the exploitation of marine life.