Japan created Money Tigers, the original format adapted into the British television show Dragon's Den.
Money Tigers was a Japanese business reality programme in which entrepreneurs presented proposals to wealthy investors. Its central structure—an entrepreneur seeking funding while investors question the plan and negotiate terms—became the foundation for international adaptations.
The British programme is therefore not an entirely original format, although its Dragons, presenters, businesses and cultural references are specific to the UK version. The name Dragon's Den also reflects the adaptation's decision to replace the Japanese title with an expression suggesting a daunting room of powerful investors.
The format later travelled to many territories under related titles. This international history can cause confusion because some countries use different names, panel sizes and rules, while retaining the same basic pitch-and-investment premise. Japan remains the source country of the format.