Overview: After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Ishinomaki Laboratory started as a place for disaster victims to rebuild their lives by making and repairing furniture themselves. The workshop's simple and functional designs are drawing attention from the global furniture industry. They explore the possibilities of DIY while doing what they can with what they have. We report on current efforts of this small local venture and offer hints on how to thrive in the age of the new normal.