Derivative instruments and hedging activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Estimated Fair Values of Outstanding Derivative Instruments

The estimated fair values of Sony’s outstanding derivative instruments are summarized as follows:

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Yen in millions
	Balance sheet location	Fair value				Balance sheet location	Fair value
		March 31					March 31
	Asset derivatives	2013		2014		Liability derivatives	2013		2014
Interest rate contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2		2	Current liabilities other		1,227		1,221
Interest rate contracts	Assets other		254		1,012	Liabilities other		18,892		13,941
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5		6	Current liabilities other		15		24
			261		1,020			20,134		15,186
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	Yen in millions
	Balance sheet location	Fair value				Balance sheet location	Fair value
		March 31					March 31
	Asset derivatives	2013		2014		Liability derivatives	2013		2014
Interest rate contracts			—		—	Current liabilities other		147		18
Interest rate contracts			—		—	Liabilities other		2,784		1,429
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		20,706		10,855	Current liabilities other		18,933		13,892
Foreign exchange contracts	Assets other		895		12	Liabilities other		—		24
			21,601		10,867			21,864		15,363
Total derivatives			21,862		11,887			41,998		30,549

Effects of Derivative Instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income

Presented below are the effects of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Derivatives under fair value hedging relationships	Yen in millions
	Location of gain or (loss) recognized in income on derivative	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in income on derivative
		Fiscal year ended March 31
		2012			2013			2014
Interest rate contracts	Financial services revenue		(2,998	)		(11,275	)		131
Foreign exchange contracts	Foreign exchange gain or (loss), net		(49	)		1			(1	)
Total			(3,047	)		(11,274	)		130

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	Yen in millions
	Location of gain or (loss) recognized in income on derivative	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in income on derivative
		Fiscal year ended March 31
		2012			2013			2014
Interest rate contracts	Financial services revenue		(3,303	)		(2,779	)		(167	)
Foreign exchange contracts	Financial services revenue		(79	)		7,202			1,198
Foreign exchange contracts	Foreign exchange gain or (loss), net		4,324			5,596			2,703
Credit contracts	Financial services revenue		(25	)		(3	)		—
Total			917			10,016			3,734

Summary of Derivatives Additional Information Including Notional Amounts

The following table summarizes additional information, including notional amounts, for each type of derivative:

	Yen in millions
	March 31, 2013					March 31, 2014
	Notional amount		Fair value			Notional amount		Fair value
Foreign exchange contracts:
Foreign exchange forward contracts		1,127,799		(7,185	)		1,415,132		(3,737	)
Currency option contracts purchased		1,296		44			14,988		137
Currency option contracts written		1,037		(6	)		1,683		(6	)
Currency swap agreements		459,019		9,507			515,300		221
Other currency contracts		58,294		298			67,043		319
Interest rate contracts:
Interest rate swap agreements		529,642		(22,794	)		413,572		(15,596	)

Summary of Effects of Offsetting Derivative Assets and Derivative Liabilities

Presented below are the effects of offsetting derivative assets and derivative liabilities as of March 31, 2013 and 2014.

	Yen in millions
	As of March 31, 2013
	Gross amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheet		Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheet  that are subject to master netting agreements				Net amounts
			Financial instruments		Cash collateral
Derivative assets subject to master netting agreements		18,954		8,458		—		10,496
Derivative assets not subject to master netting agreements		2,908						2,908
Total derivative assets		21,862		8,458		—		13,404
Derivative liabilities subject to master netting agreements		39,371		22,921		—		16,450
Derivative liabilities not subject to master netting agreements		2,627						2,627
Total derivative liabilities		41,998		22,921		—		19,077

	Yen in millions
	As of March 31, 2014
	Gross amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheet		Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheet  that are subject to master netting agreements				Net amounts
			Financial instruments		Cash collateral
Derivative assets subject to master netting agreements		9,386		5,619		—		3,767
Derivative assets not subject to master netting agreements		2,501						2,501
Total derivative assets		11,887		5,619		—		6,268
Derivative liabilities subject to master netting agreements		28,017		22,058		—		5,959
Derivative liabilities not subject to master netting agreements		2,532						2,532
Total derivative liabilities		30,549		22,058		—		8,491