The original Japanese television title adapted into the UK show Dragon's Den was Money no Tora.
Money no Tora, often translated as Money Tigers, was a Japanese reality television programme in which entrepreneurs presented business proposals to wealthy investors. The investors decided whether to provide funding, creating the basic pitch-and-negotiation structure later used by Dragon's Den and related international programmes.
The title is often rendered in English as Money Tigers, which can create confusion over the precise answer. Money no Tora is the Japanese title, while Dragons' Den is the name used by the UK and several other international adaptations. The idea also inspired Shark Tank in the United States, although each national version has its own panel, presenter and production history.
The UK adaptation was developed for the BBC and first aired in 2005. Its use of the word “Dragons” reflects the traditional British image of powerful, formidable business figures, whereas the American adaptation uses “sharks” for a similarly intimidating panel.