Japan created the original television format later adapted as the British show Dragon's Den.
The format began with the Japanese programme Money Tigers, known in Japanese as Money no Tora. Entrepreneurs presented business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, seeking finance in return for an ownership stake or another negotiated arrangement. That basic structure became the foundation for later versions around the world.
The British adaptation retained the central elements: a formal pitch, questioning from investors, negotiation over valuation and equity, and the possibility that more than one investor might make an offer. The Japanese origin is sometimes overlooked because the British title became internationally prominent.
The concept spread widely through licensed adaptations, including versions in North America, Australia and elsewhere. Although the investors and branding vary by country, the core entertainment comes from watching ideas tested under financial pressure.