Yakov Nikitin

**Yakov Nikitin** (ヤコフ ・ニキーチン, *Yakofu Nikīchin*) is a character in the manga Dr. Stone. Yakov was the doctor on board the International Space Station (ISS) alongside his wife Darya Nikitina. While in space, he witnessed the petrification of all human life on Earth's surface from the ISS. He later founded Ishigami Village alongside the other astronauts.

## Appearance

Yakov was a tall, buff man. He had blond, spiky hair only at the very top of his head, and beard with a thick moustache. Yakov usually kept his eyes pinched in a similar way to Hyoga and was rarely if ever seen opening them widely. An air of his appearance and several of his mannerisms carried through the centuries and can be particularly seen in Kaseki of the current world population.

## Personality

Yakov was a quiet and timid man. He was the kind of person who thought with logic. According to Darya, he was a hard man to completely freak out.

When the situation calls for it, he can take on a strong, assertive role which explains his position as the commander of the International Space Station. This part of his personality can be seen in the reboot, where he burst his clothes, exposing his muscular chest while Darya cheered him. When expressing mild excitement, he would do so with a gentle *"ohoo"* exclamation that Kaseki would take on thousands of years later, as well as the habit of bursting through clothing when excited.

## Plot

### **Village Origins Saga**

Yakov is introduced as a timid, nervous astronaut and Darya's husband. Once he greets Byakuya, he gets startled by Lillian's condescending behavior which turns out to be a joke concocted by Byakuya and the former.

Having witnessed the petrification phenomena along with his crew, a panicked Yakov suggest waiting for the rescue. He hopes that among the 7 billion people alive, someone ought to save the stranded astronauts. Byakuya disagrees however, stating that the six present astronauts are the only people alive at the moment. The latter suggests going back to the earth and rescuing humanity instead.

When Shamil, Connie and Lillian make an unsafe landing in the ocean, thereby missing their target, Darya proposes that the rest of the crew lands as well and rescue the three with a boat. Yakov argues that finding a boat will take a huge amount of time, as well as trying to reach the stranded astronauts since their landing won't be accurate either. Byakuya states that they will have to do with a raft and that he will swim for miles if need be.

3 years later, Yakov is present at Shamil and Connie's wedding along with his crew members, his wife and their children.

He is last seen attempting to reach the mainland in order to gather antibiotics for a sick Connie who has contracted pneumonia. Yakov and his wife were lost at sea trying to find a cure.

## Cosmonaut Bio

The only one in the crew who has worked in the station for a second time. While he is rather timid, his ability as a researcher is definitely top notch.

## Trivia

* Yakov and Kaseki share the same birthday (February 9th).

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dr. Stone: Kingdom of Science Encyclopedia, Page 80
2. ↑ Dr. Stone Manga: Volume 19 — Extras
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dr. Stone Manga: Chapter 43
4. ↑ Dr. Stone Manga: Chapter 44
5. ↑ Dr. Stone Manga: Chapter 45