Since the move of the generals is very similar, I never considered a big problem that the pictograms for them are somewhat similar too. In Japanese also don't consider it a problem that one of the two kanji on the pieces are identical. I would not have any trouble to play with the generals as they are.
Of course the various promotion Golds should be distinguishable. And I don't think it is a good idea to represent the Tokin as a Pawn; they all move as Gold, so I think it is best they all look like one. I would propose to have 1, 2 or 3 red dots on the cap for promoted Pawn, Knight and Silver, respectively, with as mnemonic that these have 1, 2 or 3 forward moves. That keeps the same symbol for the Tokin as in the larger variants. That leaves the matter of the Lance. Perhaps we should just draw a horizontal red line on the cap for that, to symbolize it is a slider.
Since the move of the generals is very similar, I never considered a big problem that the pictograms for them are somewhat similar too. In Japanese also don't consider it a problem that one of the two kanji on the pieces are identical. I would not have any trouble to play with the generals as they are.
Of course the various promotion Golds should be distinguishable. And I don't think it is a good idea to represent the Tokin as a Pawn; they all move as Gold, so I think it is best they all look like one. I would propose to have 1, 2 or 3 red dots on the cap for promoted Pawn, Knight and Silver, respectively, with as mnemonic that these have 1, 2 or 3 forward moves. That keeps the same symbol for the Tokin as in the larger variants. That leaves the matter of the Lance. Perhaps we should just draw a horizontal red line on the cap for that, to symbolize it is a slider.