I'll be using this intermediate-level textbook next semester at my Japanese language school. I did some research, but there's very little online about it, except for a table of contents and brief excerpt at the publisher's site (http://www.hakuteisha.co.jp/books/710-7.html).

Has anyone used this textbook before, or had any experience with it?

No, but isn't that a strange title for a text? I mean it doesn't role of the tongue well. :<

Yeah, it's a terrible title. Can't imagine what possessed the authors and publisher to use it... And weirdly, there is a "2nd step" book, but no "1st step" book in the series.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Haha, the first step is putting for foot in the door? (IDK)
It remind me how there is a 中級1 in みんなの日本語 but no 中級2! XD

Alwell I searched amazon for you and got very little feedback.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/日本語3rdステップ―表現文型で...482&sr=8-1

Your'e a textbook pioneer!