Cultural quickie: cartoons/comics

Ok, I'm not about to delve into the ridiculous debate of what "anime" really mean means in the symbollic, literal, and spiritual translations. Nor am I going to once and for all end the arguement of which is the superior or purest art form. Nope, you may rest at ease now. Just wanted to briefly describe the love the Japanese seem to have with comic images in use in various public documents such as street signs, flyers, warnings, etc. The Japanese are very visual with their written PSAs, and almost always they are accompanied by a cartoon of some sort. And let me tell you, nothing sells home the dangers of fire safety than a chibi character with a fire-based aura running with arms raised and eyes bulging. It's hard to accurately describe their fondess for the style, and I certainly don't care to cover the deep-rooted cultural reasons for such. But it just gives off a weird impression, to the part where at any time I expect to ask a question to have some comic character pop out and and in a joyful/informative voice uttter: "That's a great question, and could be best explained in comic form!" Then he claps his hands and the surroundings shift into a manga-verse of bright colors and rounded shapes.