Regarding Japan, I went Sakhalin->Hokkaido last summer and no carnet was required. The temp import document they gave me was completely acceptable when shipping out of Yokohama later on.
Also Malaysia does apparently not absolutely require it, at least at land borders. When crossing Singapore->Malaysia I had to force the customs guys to put down their card game and talk to me. And then all they said was go away. No papers filled in, and not for lack of trying. Haven't been to the Thai border yet but hear it is pretty much the same up there.
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