TOKYO, Dec. 13 -- Hitachi Cable Ltd. has agreed to set up a joint venture with Corning Cable Systems LLC, a unit of US firm Corning Inc. The 50-50 venture in Japan would make fiber optic cables, said Hitachi Cable, which is 51 percent owned by Hitachi Ltd. The venture was expected to be established in January and would likely start operations in August, Hitachi Cable said.