Japan created the television format that became Britain's Dragon's Den.
The format originated in Japan as Money Tigers, a programme in which entrepreneurs presented business ideas to wealthy investors. The concept was later adapted for broadcasters in several countries, including the United Kingdom, where it became Dragon's Den.
Although the British edition has its own dragons, presenters, production history, and memorable pitches, its central mechanism comes from the Japanese format. Entrepreneurs must explain their proposition, disclose financial details, and persuade investors that the opportunity merits funding.
A common mix-up is to identify the United Kingdom as the birthplace of the format because the British version became internationally prominent. The UK created its own adaptation, but the underlying television concept was Japanese. The franchise subsequently spread to many territories under locally chosen titles and panels of investors.