Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees-JV Leases (Details 1) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended								3 Months Ended										3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] FAL Master Lease Agreement, 2008-06 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] FAL Master Lease Agreement, 2008-06 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] FAL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-03 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] FAL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-03 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] FAL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-07 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] FAL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-07 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2010-04 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2010-04 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2011-01 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2011-01 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2011-11 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2011-11 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-03 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] FPL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-03 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] FFL Master Lease Agreement, 2011-11 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] FFL Master Lease Agreement, 2011-11 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] FFL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-03 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] FFL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-03 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] FFL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-07 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] FFL Master Lease Agreement, 2012-07 [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Ventures [Member] USD ($)		Mar. 31, 2013 Flash Ventures [Member] JPY (¥)	Dec. 30, 2012 Flash Ventures [Member] USD ($)
Company's portion of the remaining guarantee obligations under each of Flash Ventures' master lease facilities
Lease Agreement Type			Original	Original	Original	Original	Refinanced	Refinanced			Refinanced	Refinanced	Refinanced	Refinanced	Refinanced	Refinanced	Refinanced	Refinanced			Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original
Guarantee of Flash Ventures equipment leases	$ 342,970	¥ 32,300,000	$ 96,867	¥ 9,100,000	$ 85,367	¥ 8,000,000	$ 160,736	¥ 15,200,000	$ 143,492	¥ 13,500,000	$ 14,320	¥ 1,300,000	$ 64,984	¥ 6,100,000	$ 23,111	¥ 2,200,000	$ 41,077	¥ 3,900,000	$ 256,715	¥ 24,100,000	$ 139,886	¥ 13,100,000	$ 85,217	¥ 8,000,000	$ 31,612	¥ 3,000,000	$ 743,177	[1]	¥ 69,900,000	$ 926,000
Lease Expiration (year)			Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017			Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2015			Dec. 30, 2016	Dec. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017

[1] The Company’s guarantee obligation, net of cumulative lease payments, was 69.9 billion Japanese yen, or approximately $743 million based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2013.