The television format adapted as Britain's Dragon's Den was originally called Money Tigers in Japan.
The Japanese programme, known as Money no Tora, established the core format later used by Dragon's Den: entrepreneurs face a panel of wealthy businesspeople and request funding for a company or product. The investors can offer money, negotiate terms or decline.
The British title uses “Dragons” rather than “Tigers,” but the commercial structure is closely related. The format was subsequently adapted in multiple countries, with each version using its own investor panel, presenter and local business culture.
A common mix-up is to treat Dragon's Den as an entirely British invention because the British version became especially prominent. Its pitch-and-investment framework, however, originated in Japan before the UK adaptation launched.