Japan is the country of origin associated with the original Money Tigers format behind Dragon's Den.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television programme built around entrepreneurs seeking financial backing from established businesspeople. Its basic format supplied the foundation for later national adaptations, including Britain's Dragon's Den and the United States' Shark Tank.
The country is sometimes obscured because each adaptation has its own title, host and investor panel. The British programme uses dragons, while the American version uses sharks, but neither title identifies the original national source. Japan is the key historical link between these versions.
The format travelled internationally because its central conflict is easy to understand across languages and markets: a founder wants capital, investors want convincing evidence and a fair ownership stake, and both sides must negotiate under pressure. Local adaptations then add country-specific businesses, presenters and investment personalities while preserving that core structure.