Nippon Television originally broadcast Money Tigers, the Japanese format that inspired Britain's Dragon's Den.
Money Tigers supplied the core format later adapted for British television: entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors and seek financial backing. The Japanese programme was made for Nippon Television, one of Japan's major commercial broadcasters.
The international success of the format led to versions in multiple territories. Britain retained the “Dragons” branding, while other adaptations used different names, including Shark Tank in the United States. The investors’ questioning and negotiation are shared features across these editions.
Nippon Television is not the same organisation as NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster. That distinction is a frequent source of confusion when the programme’s Japanese origins are discussed.