The color red for anime heroes.

My wife's watching a video with T.M. Revolution where he's running
around on stage in red pants and a red trench coat (my daughter took
one look and said; "ooh, Vash rocks!") which leads to my question.

I notice a lot of anime put their hero in red. Inuyasha, Vash the
Stampede (Trigun), Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist) etc. I can
think of two possible reasons for this;

1) There is something in the Japanese culture that makes it
appropriate for the hero to be in red.

2) Simple dynamics, no matter where you set the camera, you will
always be able to pick out the hero.

Which is it?