Stockholders' equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Changes in Number of Shares of Common Stock Issued and Outstanding

Changes in the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 have resulted from the following:

	Number of shares
Balance at March 31, 2015		1,169,773,260
Issuance of new shares		92,000,000
Exercise of stock acquisition rights		720,500
Balance at March 31, 2016		1,262,493,760
Exercise of stock acquisition rights		1,269,900
Balance at March 31, 2017		1,263,763,660
Issuance of new shares		218,000
Exercise of stock acquisition rights		2,565,700
Conversion of convertible bonds		4,789
Balance at March 31, 2018		1,266,552,149

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, by component for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were as follows:

	Yen in millions
	Unrealized gains (losses) on securities			Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments			Pension liability adjustment			Foreign currency translation adjustments			Total
Balance at March 31, 2015		154,153			—			(201,131	)		(338,305	)		(385,283	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		45,527			1,914			(174,380	)		(83,899	)		(210,838	)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income		(43,307	)		(3,112	)		2,627			—			(43,792	)
Net other comprehensive income		2,220			(1,198	)		(171,753	)		(83,899	)		(254,630	)
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		15,637			—			(1,145	)		(1,087	)		13,405
Balance at March 31, 2016		140,736			(1,198	)		(371,739	)		(421,117	)		(653,318	)

	Yen in millions
	Unrealized gains (losses) on securities			Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments			Pension liability adjustment			Foreign currency translation adjustments			Total
Balance at March 31, 2016		140,736			(1,198	)		(371,739	)		(421,117	)		(653,318	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(27,007	)		5,028			54,513			(17,988	)		14,546
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income		(3,286	)		(3,888	)		8,719			—			1,545
Net other comprehensive income		(30,293	)		1,140			63,232			(17,988	)		16,091
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(16,192	)		—			229			(2,495	)		(18,458	)
Balance at March 31, 2017		126,635			(58	)		(308,736	)		(436,610	)		(618,769	)
	Yen in millions
	Unrealized gains (losses) on securities			Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments			Pension liability adjustment			Foreign currency translation adjustments			Total
Balance at March 31, 2017		126,635			(58	)		(308,736	)		(436,610	)		(618,769	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		2,013			(2,295	)		1,779			(4,480	)		(2,983	)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income*1		(943	)		1,111			10,611			(1,855	)		8,924
Net other comprehensive income		1,070			(1,184	)		12,390			(6,335	)		5,941
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,514			—			98			2,306			3,918
Balance at March 31, 2018		126,191			(1,242	)		(296,444	)		(445,251	)		(616,746	)

*1 Foreign currency translation adjustments were transferred from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income as a result of a complete or substantially complete liquidation or sale of certain foreign subsidiaries and affiliates.

Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were as follows:

	Yen in millions
Comprehensive income components	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income									Affected line items in consolidated statements of income
	2016			2017			2018
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities		(19,598	)		(4,560	)		(646	)	Financial services revenue
		(47,087	)		(30	)		(561	)	Gain on sale of securities investments, net
		3,063			—			—		Loss on devaluation of securities investments
Total before tax		(63,622	)		(4,590	)		(1,207	)
Tax expense or (benefit)		20,315			1,304			264
Net of tax		(43,307	)		(3,286	)		(943	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments		(8	)		—			—		Foreign exchange loss, net
		(3,104	)		(5,583	)		1,111		Cost of sales
Total before tax		(3,112	)		(5,583	)		1,111
Tax expense or (benefit)		—			1,695			—
Net of tax		(3,112	)		(3,888	)		1,111
Pension liability adjustment		2,867			13,044			11,034		*
Tax expense or (benefit)		(240	)		(4,325	)		(423	)
Net of tax		2,627			8,719			10,611
Foreign currency translation adjustments		—			—			(1,855	)	Other operating expense, net
Tax expense or (benefit)		—			—			—
Net of tax		—			—			(1,855	)
Total amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		(43,792	)		1,545			8,924

* The amortization of pension and postretirement benefit components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. Refer to Note 15.

Net Income Attributable to Sony Corporation's Stockholders and Transfers (to) from Noncontrolling Interests

Net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders and transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were as follows:

	Yen in millions
	Fiscal year ended March 31
	2016			2017			2018
Net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders		147,791			73,289			490,794
Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests:
Decrease in additional paid-in capital for purchase of additional shares in consolidated subsidiaries		(12,776	)		(53,927	)		(74	)
Change from net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders and transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests		135,015			19,362			490,720