The television format behind Dragon's Den originated in Japan.
The original programme was Money Tigers, or Money no Tora, which began in Japan in 2001. Its structure featured entrepreneurs presenting business proposals to wealthy investors and seeking funding in exchange for equity or another negotiated arrangement.
The concept was adapted for television markets around the world. The British version, Dragon's Den, began in 2005, while the American version, Shark Tank, used different branding for a similar investment format.
The country of origin is sometimes misidentified as the United Kingdom because the BBC version became particularly prominent internationally. However, the British programme is an adaptation, not the original creation. The Japanese source programme established the essential pitch-and-investment framework.