Asian maples can lose their foliage due to scorch or even lack of water but typically will releaf rather promptly, provided other growing conditions are satisfactory. If no sign of releafing this season, then you may have other, more serious problems going on. When did you move it? Transplant shock could certainly be playing a role in the problems this tree is having.

It is in a pot with well drained soil, so I didn't have to dig it up. Just picked up the pot and moved it. Should I remove it from the pot and look at the roots or would that cause it too much stress? The tree is very young, I think it was a 2nd year tree. I had planned on keeping it in the pot for at least a year and then planting it in the ground. I did that with another JM last year and it is now in the ground and doing fine.

Thanks,
Linda

It has just dried out once or twice too often. It may be a bit trickier to calculate because of the container, but it is important that again, you keep the soil evenly moist. I would be very surprised if the tree did not releaf for you this summer. This exact thing happened to one of my containered maples earlier this spring - it blew over in the wind and I didn't notice it for several days, in which time it had dried out rather badly. All the leaves shriveled and dried and turned brown. I removed all the dead foliage, watered it well (and still continue to) and it has now completely releafed and looks as good as new.

Thanks! Would you consider planting a tree this young in the ground?

If it is anything larger than a 1G, sure! I just grow almost exclusively in containers, regardless of age/size :-)) But in the ground, your likelihood of being able to provided moisture at a consistent rate is much better.