Okazu

Okazu ( Jap. おかず , お数 ; 御数 ; お菜 ; 御菜 ) in Japanese home cooking a general term for side dishes , even for small snacks .

The term is shortened to the meaning "perfect / enrich the food" and is a creation of Nyōbō-Kotoba court ladies of the Muromachi period .

Another expression with the same meaning is "Sōzai" ( 惣菜 ).