Kotlin vs Java | Kotlin or Java For Android Development | Kotlin And Java Difference | Simplilearn

Java literally has no edge over Kotlin. Kotlin is almost a super-set of Java, so it includes everything Java has (except for things universally spit on by Java developers) and more. Chances are, if you found something that Java has but Kotlin doesn't, like checked Exceptions and Null Pointer Exceptions, they were removed because no one liked them. Checked exceptions in large code bases didn't improve code quality, but rather just acted as boilerplate one has to write to get their work done.
That being said, you should still know Java (atleast just skim it) to deal with legacy Java code, take use of interoperability of Kotlin, and truly appreciate why Kotiln is loved by everyone.