Japan created the original television format later adapted as Britain's Dragon's Den.
The concept began with a Japanese business programme in which entrepreneurs presented proposals to a panel of investors. The format was then sold internationally, with each country selecting its own presenters, investors, language and business culture while retaining the central pitch-and-negotiation structure.
Because the British programme became especially prominent, viewers sometimes assume Dragon's Den was created in the United Kingdom. In fact, the BBC version is one national adaptation of a format that travelled across television markets.
The Japanese origin also explains why related versions can have different titles and investor terminology. The programme's international success rests on a simple premise: founders must persuade experienced businesspeople that their companies deserve money and ownership.