Money Tigers was the original Japanese business-pitching programme that inspired the format of British Dragon's Den.
The format was created in Japan, where entrepreneurs sought financial backing from successful businesspeople by presenting their ideas and negotiating under pressure. The British production adapted that premise for the BBC while retaining the central conflict between founders seeking capital and investors seeking a worthwhile stake.
The Japanese title is often confused with the later international programme names. “Dragon's Den” became the British title, while “Shark Tank” became the best-known American title. These versions share the same broad format but use different branding, casts and production histories.
The format's international spread explains why several countries have their own versions. Although the British series has a distinct identity, its pitch structure, investor panel and equity negotiations belong to a wider television format that began with the Japanese programme Money Tigers.