The Japanese business-investment format that inspired the British show Dragon's Den was Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television programme built around entrepreneurs pitching business ideas to wealthy investors. Its structure became the basis for the wider Dragons' Den format, in which investors question founders and decide whether to offer money for an ownership stake.
The Japanese title does not use the word “dragons.” That branding developed in adaptations for other markets, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The British edition retained the competitive pitch format while using the term Dragons for its investors.
The format is also closely associated internationally with Shark Tank, the American adaptation. Although the names and panel members differ between countries, the central idea remains the same: a founder seeks investment through a direct presentation and negotiation.