Reconciliation of Statutory Tax Rate and Effective Tax Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Reconciliation of Effective Income Tax Rate [Line Items]
Statutory tax rate	(41.00%)	41.00%	41.00%
Non-deductible expenses	4.20%	1.30%	10.30%
Income tax credits	(3.60%)	(2.00%)	(18.00%)
Change in statutory tax rate	(36.20%)	0.90%	(4.60%)
Change in valuation allowances	491.00%	174.50%	4.70%
Change in deferred tax liabilities on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries and corporate joint ventures	(21.20%)	1.50%	5.80%
Lower tax rate applied to life and non-life insurance business in Japan	(7.80%)	(2.80%)	(30.30%)
Foreign income tax differential	6.70%	(10.50%)	(17.60%)
Adjustments to tax accruals and reserves	(15.90%)	4.50%	16.20%
Effect of equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies	60.00%	(2.80%)	46.00%
Sony Ericsson remeasurement gain	(50.60%)
Insurance recovery tax exemptions related to the Floods	(5.20%)
Other	(1.40%)	1.90%	(1.60%)
Effective income tax rate	379.00%	207.50%	51.90%

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Adjustments to Tax Accruals and Reserves

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Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Domestic Income Tax Rate Differential

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Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Earnings of Equity Method Affiliates

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Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Insurance Recovery Tax Exemptions Related to the Floods.

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Effective Income Tax Rate, Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries And Affiliates

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A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Topic 235

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-Section S99

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

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-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

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-Topic 740

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-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit that is attributable to changes in the income tax laws or rates.

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-Topic 740

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to the equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries that is exempt from income taxes under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by the difference between statutory income tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the domestic federal statutory income tax rate recorded during the period.

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The sum of the differences between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to all nondeductible expenses under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to all other items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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The sum of the differences between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by all tax credits generated or utilized under enacted tax laws during the period.

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