Washington DC has humid and rainy summers like those of the eastern Asian native habitat of Japanese maple. Even in the wild it is typical for Japanese maple to be a forest understory tree. Wild type green seedlings are also much tougher than many fancy garden forms. Sacramento is very hot and dry in summer. There is also the matter of mineral salts in the irrigation water, a problem for Japanese maples in arid and semiarid regions. Plants that are common in gardens up here may be seen almost exclusively in certain locations with unusual conditions down there, such as the extensive and heavily watered lawns of the California State Capitol grounds. Even there growth of such kinds may be noticeably less enthusiastic than in more suitable climates elsewhere. The Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK says a good indication of a locale being suitable for Japanese maples is the presence of evergreen azaleas in plantings there. Large, established and healthy Japanese maples in the vicinity, under similar site conditions would also of course be a good hint. For shade you probably really want something much more likely to thrive and develop rapidly under your conditions. Even where naturally suited Japanese maples are slow-growing trees that may take decades to produce a significant shadow.

If you get up to the Green Spring sale, you'll see Eastwood's Japanese Maples. We've bought from them - they are very knowledgeable. Here is their page with one of the trees you mentioned: K Here is a link that might be useful: Eastwoods

I'm located in zone 7A, in Arkansas. I have had some Inaba Shidare in full sun. They did good, but I had to keep them watered, & there was usually some leaf scorch by August. I have moved them to a shadier location, and they are doing much better. I do have a crimson queen, and it seems to handle the full sun pretty well. You might also consider a red dragon. I planted one in my grandparents yard 2 years ago, and it is handling the full sun with no problems. I recently purchased a Mikawa yatsubusa. It is still rather small, so I am leaving it in the container. I have read they do handle sun. So if you decide on one, keep us posted. I would be interested in knowing how it does in our zone and sun. I would avoid the Sango Kaku if you are on a budget. It is a very gorgeous tree, but they are prone to disease. I have had one in my yard for the past 2 years, but actually had to dig it up today, due to the bark turning black from the top down.

The two things that often burn the leaves on Japanese maples are drying of the soil and too much exposure. Too much exposure can be cold frosty winds in spring as well as hot dry winds in summer. Even in my cool summer area the difference in seasonal appearance between a Japanese maple that is spending the summer on a regularly watered site and one that is more or less allowed to go completely dry can be like night and day. The purple leaved kinds in particular really show it. Another thing to think about in the placement of your new tree is that - depending on what you have in mind - 10' from the house may eventually turn out to be too close.