Dang, Kamiya must be filthy rich. Considering the fact that each shinai costs $20 at the very least (since they use these shinai in matches, i doubt they're the cheapest kind), he must buy them shinai in bulk.
I think the pacing is fine as it is. A shiai lasts for only five minutes after all, it wouldn't make sense for it to go on for too long. Since almost everyone are pretty much strangers right now, there's no room for internal drama (happens a lot in sports anime) right now. Maybe when we are further into the story, but not right now.
I do hope Kurogane scores a point. Might be a bit of stretch right now, considering he's still an amateur, but he does have that secret strategy up his sleeve. Also he's a bit of an unknown right now, so he's even more unpredictable for his opponents. I sure do think we'll be in for a treat during his match with Yodaka. At the very least, he'll do something interesting enough for the people at hakurei and rakuyou to pay attention at him.
Also, is it just me, or the people at Rakuyou won't be recording his match? After all, they assumed that he's just an abandoned taishou.