Dragons' Den is based on the Japanese television programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was the original business-investment format in which entrepreneurs presented proposals to wealthy investors. The concept was adapted internationally, with each country developing its own title, presenters, investor panel and production style.
The British version uses Dragons as its investors, while the American adaptation is known as Shark Tank. Those programmes share the central pitch-and-equity structure but are separate national productions rather than alternative names for the Japanese original.
The Japanese title is often confused with the names of later adaptations because the international format has become more famous through its many local versions. The original programme is therefore the key source of the format, while Dragons' Den is the British adaptation.