Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

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, 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

	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

	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2013
									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		278,575		252,212		—		530,787		530,787		—		—		—
Available-for-sale securities
Debt securities
Japanese national government bonds		—		1,220,608		—		1,220,608		24,335		1,196,273		—		—
Japanese local government bonds		—		67,195		—		67,195		61		67,134		—		—
Japanese corporate bonds		—		209,950		2,214		212,164		40,359		171,805		—		—
Foreign corporate bonds		—		422,022		20,752		442,774		96,896		345,878		—		—
Other		—		25,036		—		25,036		98		24,938		—		—
Equity securities		132,447		78		—		132,525		—		132,525		—		—
Other investments*1		6,742		3,126		76,892		86,760		—		86,760		—		—
Derivative assets*2		—		21,862		—		21,862		—		—		20,713		1,149
Total assets		417,764		2,222,089		99,858		2,739,711		692,536		2,025,313		20,713		1,149
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities*2		—		41,998		—		41,998		—		—		20,322		21,676
Total liabilities		—		41,998		—		41,998		—		—		20,322		21,676

*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, 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

	Yen in millions
	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2012
	Assets
	Available-for-sale securities								Other investments
	Debt securities
	Japanese corporate bonds			Foreign corporate bonds			Other
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	)

	Yen in millions
	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2013
	Assets
	Available-for-sale securities									Other investments
	Debt securities
	Japanese corporate bonds			Foreign corporate bonds			Other
Beginning balance		1,513			15,291			309			73,451
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings*1		—			12			—			5,765
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)*2		(2	)		2,086			(9	)		1,984
Purchases		—			4,701			—			1,836
Settlements		—			(4,100	)		—			(2,982	)
Transfers into level 3*3		703			4,906			—			—
Transfers out of level 3*4		—			(2,244	)		(300	)		—
Other		—			100			—			(3,162	)
Ending balance		2,214			20,752			—			76,892
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at reporting date:
Included in earnings*1		—			(14	)		—			5,765

*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 comprehensive income.

*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.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, such measurements of fair value related primarily to the following:

	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2012
	Estimated fair value						Amounts included in earnings
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Remeasurement of previously owned equity interest in Sony Ericsson		—		—		71,449		102,331
S-LCD impairment		—		—		71,662		(60,019	)
Long-lived assets impairments		—		—		8,292		(59,583	)
								(17,271	)

	Fiscal year ended March 31, 2013
	Estimated fair value						Amounts included in earnings
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Remeasurement of retained investment in M3		128,289		—		—		117,216
Long-lived assets impairments		—		—		3,935		(14,494	)
								102,722

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, 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		—		1,079,914		—		1,079,914		1,072,709
Investment contracts included in policyholders’ account in the life insurance business		—		338,589		—		338,589		340,600
Total liabilities		—		1,418,503		—		1,418,503		1,413,309
	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2013
	Estimated fair value								Carrying amount
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total
Assets:
Housing loans in the banking business		—		947,276		—		947,276		860,330
Total assets		—		947,276		—		947,276		860,330
Liabilities:
Long-term debt including the current portion		—		1,221,174		—		1,221,174		1,094,716
Investment contracts included in policyholders’ account in the life insurance business		—		363,634		—		363,634		363,213
Total liabilities		—		1,584,808		—		1,584,808		1,457,929