Fair value measurements - Geographic allocations of trading assets related to government, agency and municipal securities (Parenthetical) (Detail) - JPY (¥) ¥ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020
Fair value, concentration of credit risk [Line items]
Non-trading debt securities	¥ 411,980	¥ 455,392
Government, agency and municipal securities [Member]
Fair value, concentration of credit risk [Line items]
Non-trading debt securities	¥ 291,000	¥ 321,000

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121558606&loc=SL82898722-210454

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121553693&loc=d3e26610-111562

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=d3e27161-111563

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant