The television format that became BBC's Dragon's Den originated in Japan.
The original Japanese programme was called Money Tigers, or Money no Tora, and it established the central format: entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors and seek funding in exchange for equity. The concept was later adapted for broadcasters in many countries.
The BBC version is one of the best-known adaptations, but it was not the first Dragon's Den programme. Its title and panel structure were adapted for the British market, while other countries used names such as Shark Tank. The word “Dragon” generally refers to the investor panel in the British and several international versions.
A common mix-up is to assume the format began in the United Kingdom because the BBC series became internationally prominent. In fact, Japan provided the original television concept, while the British series helped make the format familiar to a large global audience.