Stockholders' equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

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, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have resulted from the following:

	Number of shares
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
Issuance of new shares		149,900
Exercise of stock acquisition rights		4,525,300
Conversion of convertible bonds		2,992
Balance at March 31, 2019		1,271,230,341
Issuance of new shares		184,900
Exercise of stock acquisition rights		2,294,900
Conversion of convertible bonds		86,040
Cancellation of treasury stock		(12,737,400	)
Balance at March 31, 2020		1,261,058,781

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, 2018, 2019 and 2020 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, 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*		(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	)

	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, 2018		126,191			(1,242	)		(296,444	)		(445,251	)		(616,746	)
Cumulative effect of ASU2016-01		(15,526	)		—			—			—			(15,526	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		33,124			2,316			(23,448	)		10,071			22,063
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income*		161			(1,093	)		9,488			(1,627	)		6,929
Net other comprehensive income		33,285			1,223			(13,960	)		8,444			28,992
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		8,915			—			53			(1,578	)		7,390
Balance at March 31, 2019		135,035			(19	)		(310,457	)		(435,229	)		(610,670	)

	Yen in millions
	Unrealized gains (losses) on securities		Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments			Pension liability adjustment			Foreign currency translation adjustments			Debt valuation adjustments		Total
Balance at March 31, 2019		135,035		(19	)		(310,457	)		(435,229	)		—		(610,670	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		40,334		1,193			(17,519	)		(75,814	)		3,032		(48,774	)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income*		56		74			92,490			(74	)		—		92,546
Net other comprehensive income		40,390		1,267			74,971			(75,888	)		3,032		43,772
Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		14,234		—			34			(1,245	)		1,059		14,082
Balance at March 31, 2020		161,191		1,248			(235,520	)		(509,872	)		1,973		(580,980	)

* 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, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were as follows:

	Yen in millions
Comprehensive income components	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income									Affected line items in consolidated statements of income
	2018			2019			2020
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities		(646	)		235			82		Financial services revenue
		(561	)		—			—		Gain on sale of securities investments, net
Total before tax		(1,207	)		235			82
Tax expense or (benefit)		264			(74	)		(26	)
Net of tax		(943	)		161			56
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments		1,111			(1,093	)		—		Cost of sales
		—			—			106		Net sales
Total before tax		1,111			(1,093	)		106
Tax expense or (benefit)		—			—			(32	)
Net of tax		1,111			(1,093	)		74
Pension liability adjustment		11,034			9,891			92,514		*
Tax expense or (benefit)		(423	)		(403	)		(24	)
Net of tax		10,611			9,488			92,490
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(1,855	)		(1,627	)		(74	)	Foreign exchange loss, net and other operating (income) expense, net
Tax expense or (benefit)		—			—			—
Net of tax		(1,855	)		(1,627	)		(74	)
Total amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		8,924			6,929			92,546

* The amortization of pension and postretirement benefit components is 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, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were as follows:

	Yen in millions
	Fiscal year ended March 31
	2018			2019			2020
Net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders		490,794			916,271			582,191
Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests:
Increase (decrease) in additional paid-in capital for purchase of additional shares in consolidated subsidiaries		(74	)		(22,775	)		16,372
Change from net income attributable to Sony Corporation’s stockholders and transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests		490,720			893,496			598,563