By Kari Lane
This post was originally published on July 10, 2025. Updated on August 23, 2025.
Ahead of the Dr. Stone: Science Future (cour 2) release, we caught up with Yusuke Kobayashi (voice actor of Senkuū Ishigami) and Kenji Nojima (voice actor of Dr. Xeno) at Anime Expo 2025. We talk about what it means for them to be at AX, how difficult the science jargon is for them, what invention they cannot live without and more.
Dr. Stone: Science Future is the final season of the series and is broken up into three cours (parts) with part 1 having aired in January 2025, part 2 premiering July 10th and the last cour release date has not been announced.
This interview was conducted with an interrupter and has been edited for clarity.
KARI LANE: Welcome to Anime Expo! How are you feeling and what does it mean for you to be here?
YUSUKE KOBAYASHI: I am honored to be here for the Dr. Stone panel this year. I have already seen a lot of cosplayers and I have felt the energy just walking through the venue. So I am really excited how the turn out is going to be and what the energy level is going to be like for the panel.
KENJI NOJIMA: So this is my first time at Anime Expo and I am really looking forward to seeing the raw and real reactions from the audience at the Dr. Stone panel later.
LANE: (To Kobayashi) You’ve been with this character for some time, has anything surprised you about them?
KOBAYASHI: So you know some people never change, including Senkuū. I think from the very first episode he’s always maintained a certain vibe and a certain demeanure. In that sense, I don’t think he’s changed at all as a person, as a scientist. So keeping that consistent throughout all the seasons, I think has been something that I always tried to channel into my acting.
LANE: (To Nojima) Science is a huge part of the show, were there any lines or words that were particularly challenging to master?
NOJIMA: So I have a lot of scientific methods and things to explain, and they go in extreme detail so it almost becomes like a monologue of science terms and what I am trying to portray here. But as a genius character I have to make sure that I know my stuff (laughs). Whether it’s the pace or the certain nuances that I want to bring out of the things I am trying to explain and making sure it fits with the character, is something I challenge myself to do throughout the process.
LANE: (To Kobayashi) What about you? And I saw you reacting a little bit when the question was being asked. It made me more curious about your answer (laughs). Have there been any particularly challenging words or phrases? Or have things gotten easier to say over the seasons?
KOBAYASHI: There are still scientific terms that I have never heard of, so regarding those terms, I’ll just take them home and practice over and over again. And he also has to explain all of this to his friends, not only his friends, but to the audience as well so they understand. But also the challenge is to keep the demeanor of Senkuū as a character because he does have that flair of personality. So explaining explaining it through his lens with the time constraint involved, has always been a challenge I think.
LANE: (To Nojima) Senkuu and Dr. Xeno have an interesting relationship. You could say Dr Xeno is kind of a “villain” yet he does have a lot of respect for Senkuū as a scientist. What was it like getting to play with this character?
NOJIMA: I think there are a lot of similarities between Xeno and Senkuū, but I think the ultimate difference is that Senkuū explores science for all – for the benefit of the community and the people around him. And Xeno is more for himself. However, I will say, although Xeno is portrayed as a villain character, I think he is living out his own truth and his own version of justice similar to Senkuū. In that sense I don’t think he is completely a villain. They are just living their own reality in their own way.
LANE: This has been brought up a little bit, so I kinda love that this question is coming up now, Kobayashi: No matter what happens, Senkuu always maintains his cool, though he may have some zany responses. What do you do in your own life to remain focused and calm when things get out of control?
KOBAYASHI: I think there are definitely times obviously like, you know any human being, I’ve spent time pondering maybe the right answer, or spending a little bit more time than I wanted to trying to understand how I feel about certain things. But I think like Senkuū I understand it’s not about the amount of time that I spend that is going to change the answer. So to make a quick decision is ultimately, I think, my way of living. And keeping maintained and neutral throughout the process.
NOJIMA: He is indeed, might be kind of humble a little bit, but he is very cool. He always has that confidence in his way of thinking. (Both laugh)
LANE: What has been your favorite “invention” in the show? Or what item/technology could you not live without?
KOBAYASHI: My eyesight is getting worse and worse as time goes by. (both laugh) And the item I couldn’t live without are my glasses. In the second cour there is a theme of eyesight related themes, and there is an invention in regards to that through the character Suika. So I think I can relate, in that sense because my eyesight is just getting terrible.
NOJIMA: So I think, well there is just so many to choose from, but in particular what comes to mind is when Taiju really really wants to get his hands on the smart phone. And for me I can relate because I can’t go anywhere without my tablet since for me, it kind of mends the language barrier per se. So this is my life right here (gestures to tablet), I need my tablet. (Laughs)
LANE: Arigato gozaimasu and congratulations on the next season!
KOBAYASHI: Thank you.
NOJIMA: Thank you.
For more coverage on Anime Expo 2025 news, you can find it right here on the Anime Expo 2025 archive on The Beat!
