did I just lose a branch? Is my JWP in serious danger? Is the gnome on the right to blame?

[Linn01]

 

[Nybonsai12]

Branch is def gone. Overall color doesn't look great but it could be the lighting. How's the soil? Free draining? There looks to be a lot of moss on the soil surface. how much sun does it get?

 

[Linn01]

4h in full sun/day. East side of the house. Free draining soil, but might be in need of a repot (scheduled it for next year, change of angle and pot). Ill get rid of that moss this evening.

 

[Nybonsai12]

I'd try to give it more sun and make sure it's not staying too wet.

 

[Japonicus]

4h in full sun/day. East side of the house

I agree with Nybonsai. 4 hours on the E side is good for Japanese maples, not conifers.
Surface looks atrocious and needs some care so you can get an idea of what's going on
moisture wise.
Could you share a picture without the sunlight on the foliage?

 

[Cadillactaste]

It's a lost branch. That said, I think it improved it. Though...I'm a sucker for obtuse triangle canopies. So there is that...

 

[River's Edge]

Only if the gnome was responsible for the wiring.The circulation looks to have been cut off by the wire marks near the trunk on that branch.

 

[WinstonWolfe]

Only if the gnome was responsible for the wiring.The circulation looks to have been cut off by the wire marks near the trunk on that branch.

Good observation, I totally missed that