Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

The fair value of Sony’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2011 and 2012 are as follows:

	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2011
									Presentation in the consolidated balance sheets
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Marketable securities		Securities investments and other		Other current assets/ liabilities		Other noncurrent assets/ liabilities
Assets:
Trading securities		189,320		186,482		—		375,802		375,802		—		—		—
Available-for-sale securities
Debt securities
Japanese national government bonds		—		1,143,765		—		1,143,765		71,472		1,072,293		—		—
Japanese local government bonds		—		22,965		—		22,965		3,415		19,550		—		—
Japanese corporate bonds		—		329,057		4,581		333,638		96,745		236,893		—		—
Foreign corporate bonds		—		306,070		19,751		325,821		81,486		244,335		—		—
Other		—		7,933		299		8,232		—		8,232		—		—
Equity securities		141,408		81		—		141,489		—		141,489		—		—
Other investments*1		5,459		4,637		74,026		84,122		—		84,122		—		—
Derivative assets*2		—		15,110		—		15,110		—		—		15,101		9
Total assets		336,187		2,016,100		98,657		2,450,944		628,920		1,806,914		15,101		9
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities*2		—		33,759		—		33,759		—		—		32,096		1,663
Total liabilities		—		33,759		—		33,759		—		—		32,096		1,663

	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2012
									Presentation in the consolidated balance sheets
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Marketable securities		Securities investments and other		Other current assets/ liabilities		Other noncurrent assets/ liabilities
Assets:
Trading securities		214,036		219,455		—		433,491		433,491		—		—		—
Available-for-sale securities
Debt securities
Japanese national government bonds		—		1,091,451		—		1,091,451		23,267		1,068,184		—		—
Japanese local government bonds		—		33,675		—		33,675		1,405		32,270		—		—
Japanese corporate bonds		—		293,637		1,513		295,150		123,434		171,716		—		—
Foreign corporate bonds		—		359,960		15,291		375,251		75,764		299,487		—		—
Other		—		23,616		309		23,925		—		23,925		—		—
Equity securities		111,517		680		—		112,197		—		112,197		—		—
Other investments*1		5,475		4,592		73,451		83,518		—		83,518		—		—
Derivative assets*2		—		18,518		—		18,518		—		—		18,513		5
Total assets		331,028		2,045,584		90,564		2,467,176		657,361		1,791,297		18,513		5
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities*2		—		41,218		—		41,218		—		—		40,034		1,184
Total liabilities		—		41,218		—		41,218		—		—		40,034		1,184

*1 Other investments include certain hybrid financial instruments and certain private equity investments.

*2 Derivative assets and liabilities are recognized and disclosed on a gross basis.

Changes in Fair Value of Level Three Assets and Liabilities

The changes in fair value of level 3 assets and liabilities for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and 2012 are as follows:

	Yen in millions
	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2011
	Assets
	Available-for-sale securities
	Debt securities
	Japanese corporate bonds			Foreign corporate bonds			Other			Other investments
Beginning balance		1,097			17,433			—			73,608
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings*1		(13	)		(224	)		—			(3,332	)
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)*2		(18	)		(841	)		(1	)		2,638
Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements		3,515			7,951			300			1,112
Transfers in and/or out of level 3		—			(4,568	)		—			—
Ending balance		4,581			19,751			299			74,026
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at reporting date:
Included in earnings*1		(2	)		10			—			(3,779	)
	Yen in millions
	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2012
	Assets
	Available-for-sale securities
	Debt securities
	Japanese corporate bonds			Foreign corporate bonds			Other			Other investments
Beginning balance		4,581			19,751			299			74,026
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings*1		—			27			—			(1,214	)
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)*2		(2	)		271			10			505
Purchases		—			6,994			—			3,144
Settlements		(500	)		(5,961	)		—			(2,784	)
Transfers into level 3*3		2,116			956			—			—
Transfers out of level 3*4		(4,682	)		(6,747	)		—			—
Other		—			—			—			(226	)
Ending balance		1,513			15,291			309			73,451
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at reporting date:
Included in earnings*1		—			(2	)		—			(1,215	)

*1 Earning effects are included in financial services revenue in the consolidated statements of income.

*2 Unrealized gains (losses) are included in unrealized gains (losses) on securities in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity.

*3 Certain corporate bonds were transferred into level 3 because differences between fair value determined by indicative quotes from dealers and internally developed prices became significant and the observability of inputs decreased.

*4 Certain corporate bonds were transferred out of level 3 because quoted prices became available.

Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values by fair value hierarchy level of certain financial instruments that are not reported at fair value are summarized as follows:

	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2011
	Estimated fair value								Carrying amount
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total
Assets:
Housing loans in the banking business		—		714,985		—		714,985		656,047
Total assets		—		714,985		—		714,985		656,047
Liabilities:
Long-term debt including the current portion		—		928,820		—		928,820		921,849
Investment contracts included in policyholders’ account in the life insurance business		—		320,036		—		320,036		322,649
Total liabilities		—		1,248,856		—		1,248,856		1,244,498
	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2012
	Estimated fair value								Carrying amount
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total
Assets:
Housing loans in the banking business		—		823,668		—		823,668		749,636
Total assets		—		823,668		—		823,668		749,636
Liabilities:
Long-term debt including the current portion		—		1,069,914		—		1,069,914		1,072,709
Investment contracts included in policyholders’ account in the life insurance business		—		338,589		—		338,589		340,600
Total liabilities		—		1,408,503		—		1,408,503		1,413,309