Crossword Genius

Japanese leader has time to get a weapon (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

shotgun

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'japanese leader' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'time to get a weapon' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 'shot' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'to get' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a weapon' becomes 'gun' (gun is a kind of weapon).
'shot'+'gun'='SHOTGUN'

'has' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for shotgun that I've seen before include "arm" , "No thugs (anag) - weapon" , "piece" , "Hunting firearm" , "Smooth-bore weapon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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