The original Japanese title of the programme adapted in Britain as Dragons' Den was Money no Tora.
Money no Tora is the Japanese title commonly associated with the format that became Dragons' Den in Britain. The title is also rendered in English as Money Tigers, reflecting the tiger metaphor used for the Japanese investors. The British adaptation changed that imagery to dragons while preserving the entrepreneur-versus-investor structure.
The distinction between a translated title and an original title is important. Money Tigers is the English rendering used in many international descriptions, while Money no Tora is the Japanese title. Both identify the same source programme, but they answer slightly different wording in a trivia question.
The format subsequently travelled to many territories, often receiving a local title and a panel of investors chosen for that market. The British version premiered in 2005 and developed its own long-running cast and business stories.