The effect of anisotropy on the mechanical properties was investigated for a chain-structured metaphosphate glass (12.5Li(2)O-12.5Na(2)O-12.5K(2)O-12.5Cs(2)O-50P(2)O(5) mol%). Anisotropic glasses with different birefringence values were prepared with a fiber elongation method. The strength and Young's moduli of the glasses were measured with a three-point bending method. It was found that the strength and Young's modulus increased with increasing birefringence, reaching about 160% and 140%, respectively, compared with the values for the isotropic glass. The enhancement of the mechanical properties was attributed to the orientation of -P-O-P- chains in the glass.