How do you know its a bait a switch? How do you know the owners went back to Japan? I wouldn’t go around stirring up unfounded suspicions that would affect other board members perception of the business.
I can say this because I do know the owners of the shop, in fact I was one of the original opening chefs at Ramen Champ and the consulting manager is a good friend whom I worked with at said Ramen Champ.
As far as I know 2 of the head chefs who work for the company moved to the United States and they aren’t going back anytime soon as there are plans for the future which I won’t disclose.
As for the “non-Japanese” staff thing I think that’s a bias you need to ask yourself if its a fair basis for judging a Japanese eatery. If they are trained properly it doesn’t matter what ethnicity they are. Also Men Oh failed for reasons not obvious to the public but again I won’t disclose, so don’t assume anything when it comes to why restaurant quality starts declining. The factors are often many and often at the same time.