Money Tigers is the Japanese business show that inspired the UK programme Dragons' Den.
The format originated in Japan, where entrepreneurs presented business ideas to successful investors and sought funding in return for equity. The concept was adapted for several countries, with each version changing the panel, presenter and local business culture while retaining the central pitch-and-negotiate structure.
The British adaptation became Dragons' Den, using the image of powerful businesspeople as dragons rather than tigers. That title helped establish a distinctive identity for the UK version while preserving the original programme's focus on investment negotiations.
Viewers sometimes assume the British show was created independently because its title and cast are strongly associated with the BBC. In fact, its international format lineage is a key part of the programme's history.