Honestly? I like the 'before' better.......:-)

I like the cut you gave it. From farther back especially, I think the lower form of branches will 'show' well. :)

.. if branch is lower to ground, might be best if droop is in back [away from the viewers]. Then comes night lighting, kidding sort of.

This is a large yard! Your tree has landscaping around it to consider.

"mature Japanese Maple - give it room ... different shapes of weeping, cascading, and elegant canopies. Deer will not bite this winning landscape tree."

Exterior of Belluschi House · More Info

Agree that original natural shape and size was more impressive. Also this is a foliage color interest cultivar so significantly reducing the volume of foliage present defeats the purpose of it. And the lower branching structure that you have now revealed happens to not be particularly attractive in this case.

'Katsura' is not a big maple. It will look nothing like the photo above!

And deer can be quite fond of JM's.

I've seen heights rangeing from 5'-9' up to to 12'-15'. Assuming the 5'-9' was a 10 year estimate. I got that one particularly because it remains small and so does my yard.

And deer would not be caught dead in my yard... or would it... ; )

Looks beautiful!!!! I love to see the twisting of the exposed trunk and branches.