In 2007 an English version of Autofiction, translated by David James Karashima, was published by Vintage Books under the same name,[8] and her novel Haidora (Hydra) appeared in print in Japan.
A film adaptation of Hebi ni piasu, directed by Yukio Ninagawa and starring Yuriko Yoshitaka in the lead role, premiered in 2008.
[11] While living in France with her husband and two daughters,[7][12] Kanehara wrote several books, including Keihaku (Flirty) in 2016 and Kuraudo gāru (Cloud Girl) in 2017.
[13] Kanehara's early work is known for its graphic depictions of sexual activity, violence, body modification, pedophilia, anorexia, bulimia, and self-harm.
[14][15][16] Kanehara has claimed that her own experiences with self-harm have inspired her fictional settings and characters, and reviews of Hebi ni piasu and Autofiction regularly focused on her own appearance and behavior.