Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 202,723	$ 223,632
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	185,189	191,321
Selling, general and administrative expenses	26,502	27,255
Research and development	6,380	7,733
Restructuring charges	4,610	1,264
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets		104
Total operating costs and expenses	222,681	227,677
Operating loss	(19,958)	(4,045)
Other (income) expense, net	10,224	11,937
Loss before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(30,182)	(15,982)
Income tax expense	1,580	1,771
Loss before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(31,762)	(17,753)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(3,377)
Net loss	(35,139)	(17,753)
Parent
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	19
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	403	418
Selling, general and administrative expenses	10,611	1,605
Research and development	90	41
Total operating costs and expenses	11,104	2,064
Operating loss	(11,085)	(2,064)
Other (income) expense, net	59	10,187
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	23,995	5,502
Loss before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(35,139)	(17,753)
Loss before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(35,139)
Net loss	(35,139)	(17,753)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	237,323	240,944
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	227,155	218,318
Selling, general and administrative expenses	12,266	20,743
Research and development	4,275	5,288
Restructuring charges	1,934	163
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets		33
Total operating costs and expenses	245,630	244,545
Operating loss	(8,307)	(3,601)
Other (income) expense, net	11,058	3,159
Loss before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(19,365)	(6,760)
Income tax expense	55	60
Loss before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(19,420)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(3,377)
Net loss	(22,797)	(6,820)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	208,303	228,715
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	190,419	207,577
Selling, general and administrative expenses	13,759	15,942
Research and development	2,015	2,404
Restructuring charges	2,676	1,101
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets		71
Total operating costs and expenses	208,869	227,095
Operating loss	(566)	1,620
Other (income) expense, net	(893)	(1,409)
Loss before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	327	3,029
Income tax expense	1,525	1,711
Loss before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(1,198)
Net loss	(1,198)	1,318
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	(242,922)	(246,027)
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	(232,788)	(234,992)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(10,134)	(11,035)
Total operating costs and expenses	(242,922)	(246,027)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(23,995)	(5,502)
Loss before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	23,995	5,502
Loss before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	23,995
Net loss	$ 23,995	$ 5,502