diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Spinner.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Spinner.cs
index eff60ba935..6ba499739a 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Spinner.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Spinner.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects
             base.ApplyDefaults(controlPointInfo, difficulty);
 
             SpinsRequired = (int)(Duration / 1000 * BeatmapDifficulty.DifficultyRange(difficulty.OverallDifficulty, 3, 5, 7.5));
+
+            // spinning doesn't match 1:1 with stable, so let's fudge them easier for the time being.
+            SpinsRequired = (int)(SpinsRequired * 0.6);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/CirclePiece.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/CirclePiece.cs
index 9f91488fe3..3ea05b6558 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/CirclePiece.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/CirclePiece.cs
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Backgrounds;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Beatmaps.ControlPoints;
+using osu.Framework.Audio.Track;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects.Drawables.Pieces
 {
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects.Drawables.Pieces
         public const float SYMBOL_SIZE = TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_CIRCLE_DIAMETER * 0.45f;
         public const float SYMBOL_BORDER = 8;
         public const float SYMBOL_INNER_SIZE = SYMBOL_SIZE - 2 * SYMBOL_BORDER;
+        private const double pre_beat_transition_time = 80;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The colour of the inner circle and outer glows.
@@ -63,6 +66,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects.Drawables.Pieces
 
         public CirclePiece(bool isStrong = false)
         {
+            EarlyActivationMilliseconds = pre_beat_transition_time;
+
             AddInternal(new Drawable[]
             {
                 background = new CircularContainer
@@ -139,14 +144,31 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects.Drawables.Pieces
             Content.Width = 1 / Content.Scale.X;
         }
 
+        private const float edge_alpha_kiai = 0.5f;
+
         private void resetEdgeEffects()
         {
             background.EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffect
             {
                 Type = EdgeEffectType.Glow,
-                Colour = AccentColour,
-                Radius = KiaiMode ? 50 : 8
+                Colour = AccentColour.Opacity(KiaiMode ? edge_alpha_kiai : 1f),
+                Radius = KiaiMode ? 32 : 8
             };
         }
+
+        protected override void OnNewBeat(int beatIndex, TimingControlPoint timingPoint, EffectControlPoint effectPoint, TrackAmplitudes amplitudes)
+        {
+            if (!effectPoint.KiaiMode)
+                return;
+
+            if (beatIndex % (int)timingPoint.TimeSignature != 0)
+                return;
+
+            double duration = timingPoint.BeatLength * 2;
+
+            background.FadeEdgeEffectTo(1, pre_beat_transition_time, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
+            using (background.BeginDelayedSequence(pre_beat_transition_time))
+                background.FadeEdgeEffectTo(edge_alpha_kiai, duration, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/TaikoPiece.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/TaikoPiece.cs
index 83b2e59e44..5e7e9e6350 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/TaikoPiece.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/Drawables/Pieces/TaikoPiece.cs
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
-using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Game.Graphics;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects.Drawables.Pieces
 {
-    public class TaikoPiece : Container, IHasAccentColour
+    public class TaikoPiece : BeatSyncedContainer, IHasAccentColour
     {
         private Color4 accentColour;
         /// <summary>
@@ -17,10 +17,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects.Drawables.Pieces
         public virtual Color4 AccentColour
         {
             get { return accentColour; }
-            set
-            {
-                accentColour = value;
-            }
+            set { accentColour = value; }
         }
 
         private bool kiaiMode;
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/TaikoHitObject.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/TaikoHitObject.cs
index 82ceaeed1a..79bb901112 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/TaikoHitObject.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/Objects/TaikoHitObject.cs
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects
         /// <summary>
         /// Diameter of a circle relative to the size of the <see cref="TaikoPlayfield"/>.
         /// </summary>
-        public const float PLAYFIELD_RELATIVE_DIAMETER = 0.5f;
+        public const float PLAYFIELD_RELATIVE_DIAMETER = 0.45f;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Scale multiplier for a strong circle.
         /// </summary>
-        public const float STRONG_CIRCLE_DIAMETER_SCALE = 1.5f;
+        public const float STRONG_CIRCLE_DIAMETER_SCALE = 1.4f;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Default circle diameter.
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/HitExplosion.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/HitExplosion.cs
index 2ebdeaa5b0..c0c329c870 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/HitExplosion.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/HitExplosion.cs
@@ -18,22 +18,23 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
     /// </summary>
     internal class HitExplosion : CircularContainer
     {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The judgement this hit explosion visualises.
-        /// </summary>
         public readonly TaikoJudgement Judgement;
 
         private readonly Box innerFill;
 
-        public HitExplosion(TaikoJudgement judgement)
-        {
-            Judgement = judgement;
+        private readonly bool isRim;
 
-            Size = new Vector2(TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_CIRCLE_DIAMETER);
+        public HitExplosion(TaikoJudgement judgement, bool isRim)
+        {
+            this.isRim = isRim;
+
+            Judgement = judgement;
 
             Anchor = Anchor.Centre;
             Origin = Anchor.Centre;
 
+            Size = new Vector2(TaikoPlayfield.HIT_TARGET_OFFSET + TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_CIRCLE_DIAMETER);
+
             RelativePositionAxes = Axes.Both;
 
             BorderColour = Color4.White;
@@ -54,22 +55,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load(OsuColour colours)
         {
-            switch (Judgement.TaikoResult)
-            {
-                case TaikoHitResult.Good:
-                    innerFill.Colour = colours.Green;
-                    break;
-                case TaikoHitResult.Great:
-                    innerFill.Colour = colours.Blue;
-                    break;
-            }
+            innerFill.Colour = isRim ? colours.BlueDarker : colours.PinkDarker;
         }
 
         protected override void LoadComplete()
         {
             base.LoadComplete();
 
-            ScaleTo(5f, 1000, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
+            ScaleTo(3f, 1000, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
             FadeOut(500);
 
             Expire();
@@ -80,7 +73,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
         /// </summary>
         public void VisualiseSecondHit()
         {
-            ResizeTo(Size * TaikoHitObject.STRONG_CIRCLE_DIAMETER_SCALE, 50);
+            ResizeTo(new Vector2(TaikoPlayfield.HIT_TARGET_OFFSET + TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_STRONG_CIRCLE_DIAMETER), 50);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/KiaiHitExplosion.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/KiaiHitExplosion.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e0da3ed3db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/KiaiHitExplosion.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using OpenTK;
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Judgements;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Objects;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
+{
+    public class KiaiHitExplosion : CircularContainer
+    {
+        public readonly TaikoJudgement Judgement;
+
+        private readonly bool isRim;
+
+        public KiaiHitExplosion(TaikoJudgement judgement, bool isRim)
+        {
+            this.isRim = isRim;
+
+            Judgement = judgement;
+
+            Anchor = Anchor.Centre;
+            Origin = Anchor.Centre;
+
+            RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y;
+            Size = new Vector2(TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_CIRCLE_DIAMETER, 1);
+
+            Masking = true;
+            Alpha = 0.25f;
+
+            Children = new[]
+            {
+                new Box
+                {
+                    RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
+                    Alpha = 0,
+                    AlwaysPresent = true
+                }
+            };
+        }
+
+        [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
+        private void load(OsuColour colours)
+        {
+            EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffect
+            {
+                Type = EdgeEffectType.Glow,
+                Colour = isRim ? colours.BlueDarker : colours.PinkDarker,
+                Radius = 60,
+            };
+        }
+
+        protected override void LoadComplete()
+        {
+            base.LoadComplete();
+
+            ScaleTo(new Vector2(1, 3f), 500, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
+            FadeOut(250);
+
+            Expire();
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoPlayfield.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoPlayfield.cs
index 2278158506..c7bd4a6704 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoPlayfield.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoPlayfield.cs
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
         /// <summary>
         /// The default play field height.
         /// </summary>
-        public const float DEFAULT_PLAYFIELD_HEIGHT = 168f;
+        public const float DEFAULT_PLAYFIELD_HEIGHT = 178f;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The offset from <see cref="left_area_size"/> which the center of the hit target lies at.
         /// </summary>
-        private const float hit_target_offset = TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_STRONG_CIRCLE_DIAMETER / 2f + 40;
+        public const float HIT_TARGET_OFFSET = TaikoHitObject.DEFAULT_STRONG_CIRCLE_DIAMETER / 2f + 40;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The size of the left area of the playfield. This area contains the input drum.
@@ -39,15 +39,18 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
         protected override Container<Drawable> Content => hitObjectContainer;
 
         private readonly Container<HitExplosion> hitExplosionContainer;
+        private readonly Container<KiaiHitExplosion> kiaiExplosionContainer;
         private readonly Container<DrawableBarLine> barLineContainer;
         private readonly Container<DrawableTaikoJudgement> judgementContainer;
 
         private readonly Container hitObjectContainer;
         private readonly Container topLevelHitContainer;
-        private readonly Container leftBackgroundContainer;
-        private readonly Container rightBackgroundContainer;
-        private readonly Box leftBackground;
-        private readonly Box rightBackground;
+
+        private readonly Container overlayBackgroundContainer;
+        private readonly Container backgroundContainer;
+
+        private readonly Box overlayBackground;
+        private readonly Box background;
 
         public TaikoPlayfield()
         {
@@ -59,7 +62,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
                     Height = DEFAULT_PLAYFIELD_HEIGHT,
                     Children = new[]
                     {
-                        rightBackgroundContainer = new Container
+                        backgroundContainer = new Container
                         {
                             Name = "Transparent playfield background",
                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
@@ -73,7 +76,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
                             },
                             Children = new Drawable[]
                             {
-                                rightBackground = new Box
+                                background = new Box
                                 {
                                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                                     Alpha = 0.6f
@@ -82,24 +85,23 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
                         },
                         new Container
                         {
-                            Name = "Transparent playfield elements",
+                            Name = "Right area",
                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                            Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = left_area_size },
+                            Margin = new MarginPadding { Left = left_area_size },
                             Children = new Drawable[]
                             {
                                 new Container
                                 {
-                                    Name = "Hit target container",
-                                    X = hit_target_offset,
+                                    Name = "Masked elements",
                                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
+                                    Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = HIT_TARGET_OFFSET },
+                                    Masking = true,
                                     Children = new Drawable[]
                                     {
                                         hitExplosionContainer = new Container<HitExplosion>
                                         {
-                                            Anchor = Anchor.CentreLeft,
-                                            Origin = Anchor.Centre,
                                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
-                                            BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive
+                                            BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive,
                                         },
                                         barLineContainer = new Container<DrawableBarLine>
                                         {
@@ -114,23 +116,32 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
                                         {
                                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                                         },
-                                        judgementContainer = new Container<DrawableTaikoJudgement>
-                                        {
-                                            RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
-                                            BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive
-                                        },
-                                    },
+                                    }
+                                },
+                                kiaiExplosionContainer = new Container<KiaiHitExplosion>
+                                {
+                                    Name = "Kiai hit explosions",
+                                    RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
+                                    Margin = new MarginPadding { Left = HIT_TARGET_OFFSET },
+                                    BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive
+                                },
+                                judgementContainer = new Container<DrawableTaikoJudgement>
+                                {
+                                    Name = "Judgements",
+                                    RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
+                                    Margin = new MarginPadding { Left = HIT_TARGET_OFFSET },
+                                    BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive
                                 },
                             }
                         },
-                        leftBackgroundContainer = new Container
+                        overlayBackgroundContainer = new Container
                         {
                             Name = "Left overlay",
                             Size = new Vector2(left_area_size, DEFAULT_PLAYFIELD_HEIGHT),
                             BorderThickness = 1,
                             Children = new Drawable[]
                             {
-                                leftBackground = new Box
+                                overlayBackground = new Box
                                 {
                                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                                 },
@@ -164,11 +175,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load(OsuColour colours)
         {
-            leftBackgroundContainer.BorderColour = colours.Gray0;
-            leftBackground.Colour = colours.Gray1;
+            overlayBackgroundContainer.BorderColour = colours.Gray0;
+            overlayBackground.Colour = colours.Gray1;
 
-            rightBackgroundContainer.BorderColour = colours.Gray1;
-            rightBackground.Colour = colours.Gray0;
+            backgroundContainer.BorderColour = colours.Gray1;
+            background.Colour = colours.Gray0;
         }
 
         public override void Add(DrawableHitObject<TaikoHitObject, TaikoJudgement> h)
@@ -204,6 +215,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
             if (!wasHit)
                 return;
 
+            bool isRim = judgedObject.HitObject is RimHit;
+
             if (!secondHit)
             {
                 if (judgedObject.X >= -0.05f && !(judgedObject is DrawableSwell))
@@ -212,7 +225,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
                     topLevelHitContainer.Add(judgedObject.CreateProxy());
                 }
 
-                hitExplosionContainer.Add(new HitExplosion(judgedObject.Judgement));
+                hitExplosionContainer.Add(new HitExplosion(judgedObject.Judgement, isRim));
+
+                if (judgedObject.HitObject.Kiai)
+                    kiaiExplosionContainer.Add(new KiaiHitExplosion(judgedObject.Judgement, isRim));
+
             }
             else
                 hitExplosionContainer.Children.FirstOrDefault(e => e.Judgement == judgedObject.Judgement)?.VisualiseSecondHit();
@@ -221,7 +238,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
         /// <summary>
         /// This is a very special type of container. It serves a similar purpose to <see cref="FillMode.Fit"/>, however unlike <see cref="FillMode.Fit"/>,
         /// this will only adjust the scale relative to the height of its parent and will maintain the original width relative to its parent.
-        /// 
+        ///
         /// <para>
         /// By adjusting the scale relative to the height of its parent, the aspect ratio of this container's children is maintained, however this is undesirable
         /// in the case where the hit object container should not have its width adjusted by scale. To counteract this, another container is nested inside this
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj
index 983dc72d9e..8d6fcb503c 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.csproj
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Scoring\TaikoScoreProcessor.cs" />
     <Compile Include="UI\HitTarget.cs" />
     <Compile Include="UI\InputDrum.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="UI\KiaiHitExplosion.cs" />
     <Compile Include="UI\DrawableTaikoJudgement.cs" />
     <Compile Include="UI\HitExplosion.cs" />
     <Compile Include="UI\TaikoHitRenderer.cs" />
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MenuSideFlashes.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MenuSideFlashes.cs
index 0cf1fa54fa..77239726e8 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MenuSideFlashes.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MenuSideFlashes.cs
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
 
         public MenuSideFlashes()
         {
+            EarlyActivationMilliseconds = box_fade_in_time;
+
             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both;
             Anchor = Anchor.Centre;
             Origin = Anchor.Centre;