Nippon TV created the original Dragons' Den format that later became the British television series.
The Japanese broadcaster developed the format under the title Money Tigers. Its central idea was simple but powerful: entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors and seek capital in return for equity. The concept was subsequently adapted for different countries, with the British version taking the Dragons' Den title.
The format is often described as originating in Japan, but the precise television company matters. Nippon Television Network Corporation, commonly called Nippon TV, created and broadcast the original programme. NHK is Japan's public broadcaster and is not the creator of this format.
The US adaptation uses the title Shark Tank, while many other territories retained a translation or variation of Dragons' Den. Although the panel, production style and business culture vary by country, the pitch-and-equity structure is the shared format element.