The Chikara Mochi festival of Taisanji Temple is held every year on the third Sunday of January in Itano, Tokushima Prefecture. It is a traditional festival that has been held for over 400 years without change.

The festival features a competition to see how far a huge stack of mochi (rice cakes) can be carried within the temple grounds. The competitors show off their strength by carrying the mochi; 169kg for men, 50kg for women, 45kg for elementary school children and 10kg for the youngsters.

The diameter of the stacks of red-and-white mochi is 70cm and 80cm. The winner receives this mochi as a prize.

It is uncertain when this festival began, but it may be related to a festival of the lord of Nanajoh castle, Dewanokami Kanenaka. It is also said that it may have begun with warriors in the Warring States period who showed off their own strength. This festival has been adopted as a contest of strength at Daigoji Temple in Kyoto.