On March 13, the Japanese government approved its sixth basic plan for realizing a gender-equal society, outlining the direction for the next five years. This plan notably includes the consideration of legalizing the use of former surnames for married individuals, facilitating a movement towards legislative proposals related to the common use of former surnames. The government convened a gender equality conference, led by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Kajiyama, in a non-physical 'rotational' format to finalize the plan, which was subsequently presented to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and approved in the Cabinet.

The 132-page plan includes a list of outcome targets and addresses the need for legislative reforms concerning familial laws, underscoring the discussion of allowing the use of former surnames. Despite this inclusion, the document notably lacks a direct mention of the implementation of a system for optional separate surnames for married couples, which has drawn criticism and concern. Many advocate for this option, fearing that the push for legal recognition of former surnames could detract from the momentum towards adopting a system allowing couples to retain their surnames after marriage.

The plan's development process has faced scrutiny regarding its transparency and procedural integrity. Labor Union leader Tomoko Yoshino expressed doubts about the plan’s formulation, vocalizing strong opposition to the lack of options surrounding separate surnames while arguing for the counterproductive nature of the recent provisions for former surname usage. This sixth plan marks a unique situation, as it is the first time since the inception of the gender equality plan in 2000 that there has been opposition recorded during the finalizing phase, thereby delaying the approval process that traditionally occurs in December of preceding years, pushing it further into March and raising concerns about the implications for women candidates in upcoming elections.