What was The Tigers of Money, the original Dragons' Den?

The Tigers of Money, known in Japanese as Manē no Tora, was a reality television game show that originated in Japan in 2001. Created and owned by Nippon TV, the format features entrepreneurs pitching business ideas to a panel of investors in hopes of securing financial backing. This original Japanese series served as the foundation for the global television franchise later known internationally as Dragons' Den and Shark Tank.

What we know

• The television format originated in Japan in 2001 under the name The Tigers of Money or Manē no Tora. [2, 3]
• The show was broadcast on Nippon TV from October 2001 until March 2004, initially in the Kantō region and later nationwide. [3]
• The format was created and is owned by Nippon TV, and it is distributed globally by Sony Pictures. [2]
• The name Manē no Tora is a pun on The Tiger of Malaya, the nickname of World War II general Tomoyuki Yamashita. [2]

Where to go next

• what followedHow did the British adaptation Dragons' Den develop?
• a case in pointWhat is the American version Shark Tank like?
• whoWho hosted the original Japanese series Manē no Tora?
• compared withHow does the format compare to other reality television game shows?
• the bigger pictureWhat is the broader television franchise history of Dragons' Den?
• an unexpected connectionHow is a World War II general connected to a business reality show?The Japanese title of the show, Manē no Tora, was a direct pun on the nickname of World War II general Tomoyuki Yamashita, who was called The Tiger of Malaya.

Sources

• [1]Dragons' Den (Wikidata Q2579158) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Dragons' Den · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Manē no Tora · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Dragons' Den (British TV programme) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Shark Tank · CC BY-SA 4.0