Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity (JPY ¥) In Millions	Total	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Sony Corporation's stockholders' equity [Member]	Common stock [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Retained earnings [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive income [Member]	Treasury stock, at cost [Member]
Balance at Mar. 31, 2008	¥ 3,741,938	¥ 276,849	¥ 3,465,089	¥ 630,576	¥ 1,151,447	¥ 2,059,361	¥ (371,527)	¥ (4,768)
Exercise of stock acquisition rights	396	18	378	189	189
Stock-based compensation	3,423		3,423		3,423
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	(102,214)	(3,276)	(98,938)			(98,938)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax -
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities	(56,851)	(15,992)	(40,859)				(40,859)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments	1,787		1,787				1,787
Pension liability adjustment	(75,065)	(548)	(74,517)				(74,517)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(246,900)	797	(247,697)				(247,697)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(479,243)	(19,019)	(460,224)
Stock issue costs, net of tax	(4)		(4)			(4)
Dividends declared	(48,704)	(6,056)	(42,648)			(42,648)
Purchase of treasury stock	(302)		(302)					(302)
Reissuance of treasury stock	239		239		(25)	(152)		416
Transactions with noncontrolling interests shareholders and other	157	157
Effect of changing the pension plan measurement date	(1,298)		(1,298)			(668)	(630)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2009	3,216,602	251,949	2,964,653	630,765	1,155,034	1,916,951	(733,443)	(4,654)
Exercise of stock acquisition rights	120	6	114	57	57
Stock-based compensation	2,174		2,174		2,174
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	12,954	53,756	(40,802)			(40,802)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax -
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities	48,794	16,527	32,267				32,267
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments	1,550	2	1,548				1,548
Pension liability adjustment	23,693	(27)	23,720				23,720
Foreign currency translation adjustments	6,507	(343)	6,850				6,850
Total comprehensive income (loss)	93,498	69,915	23,583
Dividends declared	(30,487)	(5,399)	(25,088)			(25,088)
Purchase of treasury stock	(139)		(139)					(139)
Reissuance of treasury stock	61		61			(57)		118
Transactions with noncontrolling interests shareholders and other	3,726	3,179	547		547
Balance at Mar. 31, 2010	3,285,555	319,650	2,965,905	630,822	1,157,812	1,851,004	(669,058)	(4,675)
Exercise of stock acquisition rights	220	22	198	99	99
Stock-based compensation	1,782		1,782		1,782
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	(220,326)	39,259	(259,585)			(259,585)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax -
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities	(15,517)	(3,516)	(12,001)				(12,001)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments	(1,553)		(1,553)				(1,553)
Pension liability adjustment	(3,299)	(123)	(3,176)				(3,176)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(119,032)	(616)	(118,416)				(118,416)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(359,727)	35,004	(394,731)
Stock issue costs, net of tax	(8)		(8)			(8)
Dividends declared	(31,688)	(6,599)	(25,089)			(25,089)
Purchase of treasury stock	(111)		(111)					(111)
Reissuance of treasury stock	68		68			(48)		116
Transactions with noncontrolling interests shareholders and other	40,488	40,515	(27)		(27)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	¥ 2,936,579	¥ 388,592	¥ 2,547,987	¥ 630,921	¥ 1,159,666	¥ 1,566,274	¥ (804,204)	¥ (4,670)

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This element represents the amount of recognized share-based compensation during the period, that is, the amount recognized as expense in the income statement (or as asset if compensation is capitalized).

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The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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Cumulative effect of initial adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 158 (FAS No. 158), Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans on beginning retained earnings, net of tax.

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Common stock cash dividend declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.

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The after-tax amount of the change in the additional pension liability not yet recognized pursuant to FAS 87 par 37 and 38 as a net periodic pension cost. If the additional pension liability required to be recognized exceeds the unrecognized prior service costs, then the excess (which is the net loss not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost) is to be recorded as a reduction of other comprehensive income, before adjusting for tax effects. If in a subsequent measurement, the amount of minimum liability is eliminated or adjusted, this adjustment is offset against other comprehensive income in Accumulated Comprehensive Income. This line also includes changes in an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in additional pension liability not yet recognized as a net periodic pension cost. Eliminated upon adoption of FAS 158.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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Total of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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Value stock issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options.

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Value of treasury stock reissued during the period. Upon reissuance, common and preferred stock are outstanding.

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Cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method.

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