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There are several chess variants on 16x8 board with double set of pieces
per player, or 4 players, with teammate sitting adjecent. Or 15x8, with
only one rook in the central column.
Now it occured to me, that if this principle will be adopted to Shogi, game
can be cut-throat, or with teammate (or second half of own set) being
diagonally away from you.
Bishops and rooks can be arranged in one of two ways:

-R-----B--b-----r-

-r-----b--B-----R-

In this case second-rank pieces faces pieces of same kind, not as in
standart Shogi.
Second way:

-R-----B--r-----b-

-b-----r--B-----R-

Here rook can capture bishop on first move, but it's protected by silver
general and rook.

Second way is a little uneven, but if board will be
cylindrical...

There is a problem of physical representation. Because of drops, any piece
can belong to any player, but they should have different defination of
"forward", and, if game is four-player, it should be clear, who control
them.
The simpliest solution is to point certain pieces left and right. But it's
somewhat unaesthetic...
But why not use this rule? (Not for cut-throat game.) Defination of
"forward" (and promotion zone) depends on board half. That is, on files
10-18 friendly pieces moves as opponent's pieces on files 1-9.

And another idea for Xiang-Qi (it can be adopted to FIDE chess and Shogi as
well, but have some special taste with Xiang-Qi)...
17x10 double board, with four palaces, and only one rook in central file.
Diagonally-away palace is friendly, but orthogonally-away ones are
hostile... How?
As in Icehouse chess, piece can change owner, depending on position. If on
files 1-8 it's friendly, on files 10-17 it's hostile, and vice versa.
Pieces on central file are neutral. They may be moved by either player, and
may capture only piece of opposite color (the ones, that originally starts
beyond the river).
Bare facing rule applies to horizontal directions as well as for vertical.
Note that if several royal pieces are interpreted as "checkmate either",
it's impossible to do it simply by forking.
Cannon can capture another cannon on first move, but it will be controled
by opponent therafter, so it's a bad move.

I really want to try one of these games. Anyone else wish?
Some rules must be clarified, tell me your oppinion about them if you wish
to play.