Income Taxes (Details) (JPY ¥) In Millions	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2009
Income (loss) before income taxes:
Sony Corporation and all subsidiaries in Japan	¥ 143,917	¥ 45,290	¥ (4,453)
Foreign subsidiaries	61,096	(18,378)	(170,502)
Income (loss) before income taxes	205,013	26,912	(174,955)
Income taxes - Current:
Sony Corporation and all subsidiaries in Japan	60,514	42,723	34,631
Foreign subsidiaries	57,404	5,975	45,890
Income taxes - Current	117,918	48,698	80,521
Income taxes - Deferred:
Sony Corporation and all subsidiaries in Japan	365,665	(25,589)	(105,211)
Foreign subsidiaries	(58,244)	(9,151)	(48,051)
Income taxes - Deferred	307,421	(34,740)	(153,262)
Income taxes, Net	¥ 425,339	¥ 13,958	¥ (72,741)

Income (loss) before income taxes.

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The component of income tax expense for the period representing amounts paid or payable (or refundable) as determined by applying the provisions of enacted federal tax law to the domestic taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.

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The component of income tax expense for the period representing amounts paid or payable (or refundable) as determined by applying the provisions of foreign enacted tax law to the foreign taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.

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The component of income tax expense for the period representing amounts of income taxes paid or payable (or refundable) for the period for all income tax obligations as determined by applying the provisions of relevant enacted tax laws to relevant amounts of taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.

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The component of total income tax expense for the period comprised of the net change during the period in the entity's domestic deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to continuing operations as determined by applying the provisions of the federally enacted tax law.

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The component of total income tax expense for the period comprised of the net change in the entity's net foreign deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to continuing operations as determined by applying the provisions of applicable enacted tax laws of countries other than the country of domicile.

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The portion of earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to domestic operations.

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The portion of earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to foreign operations, which is defined as income (loss) generated from operations located outside the entity's country of domicile.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest.

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The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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