I think i would be more concerned about the Hitachi derailing at a low impact speed of 9 mph rather than the damage at the front end. Imagine if this was at a higher speed derailing into the path of a train coming from the opposite direction at speed.
Is what people are missing. They are focused on the impressive but less concerning nose damage and not the fact a brand new train has derailed in a collision with a closing speed of 9. It really shouldn't have. An Azuma could foreseeably hit the stops at KGX at 9, it really shouldn't fall off.
As to crumple zones and energy absorbtion of trains. Generally its through the coupler head and into the spine of the unit.