Strawberry Jam: Athletes Get Stuck in International Food Fight

A Japanese athlete’s praise for Korean berries at the Olympics left a sour taste back home, where national pride is high in varieties such as Red Cheeks, Scent of First Love and Sweet King

AOMORI, Japan—The finest strawberries from all over Japan were stacked high at a sports center here on Tuesday: the Super Deluxe Tochigi Maiden, Red Cheeks, the Skyberry and the world’s heaviest, the Sweet King.

“So sweet!” said Olympic curler Satsuki Fujisawa as she took a bite from one while cameras flashed from the assembled media at the event ahead of a tournament.

Once...