While waiting for my account to be activated, I took a look at Kurnik. I liked their interface, easy to use, but there was no customization or community that I see here. One thing though, they had regular Japanese pieces. I understand that Japanese chess is not well known, and many won't learn the Chinese characters (plus one Japanese character they use when a pawn is promoted). I would like to see brainking.com give an option to choose a piece set which has Japanese pieces.
If you need help making these these, I would be happy to create a set or 2. A general suggestion would be to have the color of the character on each piece red when promoted. Another set could stay black if people prefer. The background color for each piece should be an off white.
If the board size can be edited (which I assume would be applied to both chess and shogi), the bigger pieces could take on a more wooden look.
As for changing the name to Shogi on the front page, I think people new to Shogi won't be able to relate to it as easily. I think it is good to keep it Japanese Chess. I didn't say "kanji" when I mentioned Chinese characters because people may not know Chinese characters are called "kanji" in Japanese. It's harder to relate to. Same with the word "Shogi". Those that do know can just use it in discussions.
(hide) If you click on a person's name and then click Finished games you will have a list of games that have been completed, then click on the name of the game to get a summary of all of these games, then click on the name of the game again and you will have a game to view and analyze. (Servant) (show all tips)